GROVE Racing has revealed a new look for its Penrite Ford Mustangs at the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Team drivers David Reynolds/Garth Tander and Matt Payne/Kevin Estre took the covers off their Bathurst livery at the top of Mount Panorama.
It’s the second fresh design in as many events for the two cars, following a tribute to Allan Moffat at the Sandown 500.
Penrite brand manager Jarrod Harding explained that the company wanted to do something different with its Bathurst look.
“We have always designed our cars around reinforcing Penrite’s proud Australian history or a particular product, however at Bathurst we usually like to try and sneak in some chrome gold that shines on the broadcast,” he said.
“The combination of black and gold is special, however this year we wanted something different, which lead to a chat with Designer Peter Hughes who suggested a the brushed copper effect, matched with the strong black and mono logos, which really gives the car a unique and sleek look that is sure to turn heads.”
“It’s probably the first time we have just designed a car to be clean and cool.”
Grove goes into this year’s race expected to be among the leading Ford teams after a strong turn of speed at Sandown.
Supercars full-time rookie Payne and Frenchman Kevin Estre scored an impressive sixth place in the latter’s maiden start in the category.
Tander had been running fourth early in the race aboard the #26 entry when it lost a wheel and crashed; an incident that triggered an immediate redesign of the category’s wheel nuts.
There remains uncertainty over the aerodynamic specification in which all Mustangs will race, with a meeting tomorrow expected to decide the fate of a proposed upgrade kit.
