Morris Finance Sports Ambassador Nick Percat will go back to his racing roots this weekend when he takes part in Round One of the CIK Stars of Karting Championship at Todd Road, Port Melbourne.

It will be the Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport driver’s first kart race in more than a decade, and Percat said the purity of the sport has a unique appeal.

“I love any form of racing; driving something to the limit and pushing yourself against the best in the country, but I’ve always had a soft spot for karting,” Percat said.

“It’s raw, intense racing. There’s no one in your ear with a radio, and politics. It’s just you and the kart, and going as hard as you can.”

Percat will compete in the highly competitive KZ2 class, the top sprint kart category, in a TM powered Energy kart, and faces a field of 28 of Australia’s best karters, including multiple state and national champions.

“It will be a different challenge racing against guys trying to forge a career, and I’m confident but nervous,” he said.

“I’ll be happy if I finish in the top 10. There are a lot of talented guys coming through the sport, and I think I’ll learn a few new tricks from them, and hopefully teach them a thing or two as well.

“I spend a lot of time in the kart for training, but racing will be something else. Passing is different to V8 Supercars because you can’t rub against them. It will require a different style of driving.”

Percat plans to contest four rounds of the CIK Stars of Karting series this year.

Round One takes place at Todd Road Go Kart Track, Port Melbourne this weekend.