Brake specialist celebrates 70 years with milestone event and tribute to retiring Supercars star, Nick Percat

Bendix marked its 70th anniversary in Ballarat on November 11 with a celebration that honoured the company’s manufacturing heritage, long-serving employees, and its close connection to Australian motorsport.
Held at the company’s Ballarat site – home to Bendix since 1955 – the event was hosted by FMP Group Chief Executive George Kyriakopoulos, who used the occasion to reflect on seven decades of Australian brake manufacturing.
He noted that the business was founded when its UK owners selected Ballarat because its rolling hills reminded them of Scotland, and that Bendix grew alongside the nation’s post-war automotive industry.
George highlighted key milestones, from early Holden and Ford contracts to brake pad exports for Chevrolet in the 1980s, and the company’s evolution from friction products to a broad portfolio that now includes rotors, upgrade kits and the Ultimate Tow+ Portable Electric Brake Controller.
He also paid tribute to long-serving employees – some with more than 40 years’ service – whose work has shaped Bendix’s product development and manufacturing capability.
The celebration also featured a lighter moment as attendees voted on entries in the Bendix Car Showdown before the company cut its 70th birthday cake in front of staff, visitors, and automotive media.
A highlight of the afternoon was the recognition of Matt Stone Racing driver Nick Percat, who is retiring from full-time Supercars competition after racing the Bendix-backed Chevrolet Camaro for the past two seasons.
George thanked Nick for his professionalism and for delivering memorable moments for the brand, including his win at the Australian Grand Prix meeting – an achievement the CEO described as one of the greatest highlights of his career.
Nick, who attended the celebration along with the MSR team and a Supercar, spoke warmly about his relationship with Bendix, praising the passion within the business and the support he has felt from staff over the years.
He said he was proud to represent the brand and looked forward to finishing his final full-time season strongly at Sandown and Adelaide before stepping aside for rising talent Zach Bates in 2026. Nick will continue as an endurance driver with Triple Eight Race Engineering.
Bendix capped the presentation by gifting Nick a commemorative brake pad and a large framed memento to mark the partnership.
The milestone event underscored both Bendix’s legacy in Australian manufacturing and its ongoing ties to the motorsport community it has supported for decades.

To learn more about Bendix, visit www.bendix.com.au