Jack Perkins

For Jack Perkins, a son of the famous Australian racer Larry Perkins, it was a natural way to follow his father's footsteps in the Australian greatest racing series, the V8 Supercars Championship. Jack debuted in the V8SC in 2006, collecting 140 starts since then. He won just once, together with James Courtney in the second race of the 2015 Gold Coast 600 at Surfers Paradise.

He was more successful in the V8 development series, in which he is still active, finishing second in the final standings of the 2011 season and third in 2006.

Jack Perkins

Born in August 1986 in Melbourne, Victoria, Jack started his racing career in the 2005 Victorian Formula Ford Championship, driving for his father's team Perkins Engineering. He finished in the ninth place, having also a part-time schedule in the Australian Formula Ford, where he scored one podium.

Third place in first V8 Supercar Series season

In 2006, Jack switched to touring car competitions, participating full season in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series and servings as an endurance driver in three races of the V8 Supercar Championship. He was driving the #78 Holden VZ Commodore for Perkins Motorsport in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, scoring two podiums to finish third in the points, behind Adam Macrow and his teammate Shane Price.

In the major V8 Supercar competition, he made a debut in Sandown 500 in September, together with Shane Price in the #11 Jack Daniel's Holden. They finished in 24th place. A month later, they retired at Bathurst 1000 after an accident on the opening lap. In November, Perkins joined Paul Morris Motorsport at Desert 400 event at Bahrain International Circuit.

Jack Parkins and Larry Perkins with #11 Holden

2007 – full-time drive in the #11 Holden

For the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship season, Jack was chosen to drive a full season in the #11 Jack Daniel's Holden for his father's team, as a replacement for Paul Dumbrell who left the team. He missed out a part of the season because of diabetes, finishing far from the top in the final standings. His season-best result was 11th place in the third race at Queensland Raceway.

In 2008, Perkins returned full-time to Fujitsu-sponsored V8SC development series, driving the #500 Holden VZ Commodore. He was the race winner once, at Oran Park, to finish fifth in the points. In the V8 Supercar Championship, he served as an endurance co-driver and then returned full-time to the team after Bathurst round, when Shane Price was sacked. At Bathurst 1000, he and Nathan Pretty finished eighth.

2009 – a season with Kelly Racing

Perkins returned to the main V8 Supercar championship in 2009, driving the #11 Holden VE Commodore for Kelly Racing. The deal was part of a merger and eventual takeover of Perkins Engineering by Kelly Racing.

It was a pretty disappointing season, with 13th place in Sandown's first race as the best result. At Bathurst 1000, he and Dale Wood finished 14th in the #247 car. Perkins finished 26th in the final championship standings.

Part-time Supercars schedule in 2010

Disappointing results closed the V8 Supercar doors for 2010 season. His main competition in that season was the Aussie Racing Cars, where he won seven times to finish 10th in the points.  During the season, Perkins participated part-time in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series with Paul Morris Motorsport, scoring one victory and three podiums.

Those strong results secured him a call for endurance races in the V8 Supercar Championship. At Philip Island and Bathurst, he was driving the #47 Ford for James Rosenberg Racing along with Tim Slade. In the Gold Coast 600, he joined Russell Ingall in the #39 Holden for Paul Morris Motorsport.

The #999 Ford which Jack was driving in 2011

Runner-up in the 2011 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series

For the 2011 season, Perkins signed a deal with Sonic Motor Racing to drive the #999 Ford BF Falcon in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. He scored two wins and nine podiums to finish second in the championship points, far behind Andrew Thompson.

In the 2011 V8 Supercar Championship, he rejoined Russell Ingall in the Paul Morris Motorsport's Holden, finishing 20th at Philip Island 500 and 8th at Bathurst 1000.

Winning races in New Zealand's V8 SuperTourer championship

In 2012, Perkins participated in endurance races only, both in New Zealand and Australia. He was more successful in New Zealand's V8 SuperTourer series, winning the Endurance title for M3 Racing, together with Nick Cassidy and Greg Murphy. He won three endurance races at Taupo Motorsport Park and Pukekohe Park Raceway.

In the Australian V8 Supercars Championship, Perkins joined Garry Rogers Motorsport to share the #33 Holden with Alexandre Premat at Sandown and Bathurst. At Mount Panorama's 1000km race, they were 16th.

Variety of competitions in 2013

In 2013, Perkins participated in a variety of different competitions - two Australian V8 Supercar championships, New Zealand's V8 SuperTourer championship and the Australian GT Championship. Of all those competitions, he was the most successful in the GT championship, driving a Ginetta G50 for Griffith Corporation along with Mark Griffith. They were GT Sports class winners in four rounds and Perkins finished 2nd in the final standings, behind Mark Griffith.

In the Dunlop V8 Supercar Series, Perkins participated in six rounds with Eggleston Motorsport, finishing fourth in the points. In the V8 Supercars Championship, he rejoined Garry Rogers Motorsport as Scott McLaughlin's co-driver in endurance races. They finished 8th at Bathurst 1000.

2014 - full-time ride with Charlie Schwerkolt Racing

In 2014, Perkins returned to V8 Supercars Championship as a full-time driver, getting the #18 Ford Falcon of Charlie Schwerkolt Racing. His only top 10 result was 8th place at Symmons Plains.

His endurance co-driver was Cameron Waters. They finished 12th at Bathurst 1000. At the end of the season, Perkins was 23rd in the points. He was dropped out of the team at the end of the season, being replaced by Lee Holdsworth.

2015 Gold Coast 600 winners Jack Perkins and James Courtney

Maiden V8 Supercars victory at 2015 Gold Coast 600

Perkins had no full-time seat in 2015, signing a deal to be endurance co-driver for Holden Racing Team. Strange helicopter incident which caused an injury of James Courtney at Sydney Motorsport Park opened a door to Perkins. He took over Courtney's #22 Holden at Sydney and then in endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst, where Russell Ingall was his partner.

James Courtney returned for Gold Coast 600 at Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. They finished fifth in the first race and then won Sunday's race. It was maiden V8 Supercars victory for Jack Perkins. In the last round of the season, at Homebush Street Circuit, he joined Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport as a replacement for injured Nick Percat.

Jack Parkins was driving Audi in the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

Collecting wins with Audi A4

Of other competitions in 2015, Perkins participated in three rounds (of five) of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series, winning all three with Audi A4. He finished fourth in the final standings. He also scored one victory in the Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series, reserved for de-registered V8 Supercars. He was driving Holden VZ Commodore for Eggleston Motorsport.

Perkins was successful again in the 2016 Kerrisk Sports Sedan Series, winning three rounds in an Audi A4 to finish second in the final points.

In 2017, Perkins is driving the #4 Holden in the Dunlop Super2 Series

Back to development series in 2017

In the 2016 V8 Supercars Championship, Perkins was again the endurance driver for Holden Racing Team, joining James Courtney in the #22 Holden at Sandown, Bathurst and Surfers Paradise. His best result was 11th place at Sandown. At Bathurst 1000, he and Courtney finished 13th.

In 2017, Perkins returned to V8 Supercar development series (Dunlop Super2 Series) to drive Holden for Dragon Motor Racing. He also continued to drive Audi A4 in the Australian National Sports Car Series. In the Supercars endurance races, he was again a co-driver to James Courtney but also replaced Alex Rullo in Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport's Holden in one round.

Jack Perkins at Surfers Paradise in 2018

Podium at Surfers Paradise in 2018

In 2018, Perkins was out of Super2 Series, racing only as a co-driver to James Courtney in three endurance events of the Supercars Championship. Their best result was third place at Surfers Paradise, what was only second podium in a career for Perkins.

In 2019, Perkins and Courtney will race together again in endurance events.

Photos: Jack Perkins FB, speedcafe.com,