GROVE Racing has turned the blowtorch on itself in the hunt for improved performance to get its Supercars season back on track.
The Ford squad has dropped from third to 10th in the teams’ championship in the space of two rounds.
All 11 Mustangs in the field will be boosted at Townsville by aero parity tweaks but for Grove, the focus has been a mix of learning from shockers at Symmons Plains and Hidden Valley plus cashing in on a recent rookie test.
While Tickford Racing cancelled its rookie day for Thomas Randle and Declan Fraser when rain hit Winton on Tuesday last week, the #19 Penrite crew of Matt Payne pressed on.
“The year has been challenging for us so far, but we have shown we can be competitive,” team principal David Cauchi said in Grove’s event preview.
“We have learned a lot from the previous two rounds where our performance was not at the level we need it to be.
“Our rookie test day last week gave us some insight into the areas of the car that we have been struggling with.
“There are still seven rounds to go this year so plenty of opportunity to move forward.
“I am excited to get to Townsville, it’s always an enjoyable event and we are focussed on getting the results we know we can achieve.”
For his part, lead driver David Reynolds chimed in with: “We aren’t sitting where we want to be in the championship at the moment, but we are learning all the time, and the team are working hard to make the necessary improvements which I think will give us a good package going forward.”
Grove Racing is one of several teams carrying forward its Indigenous Round livery into the NTI Townsville 500.
