GROVE Racing will campaign both its Ford Mustangs under the Penrite Racing banner in this year’s Repco Supercars Championship.
The team has announced an expansion of its deal with the oil brand to sponsor both David Reynolds and new recruit Lee Holdsworth.
Penrite moved with Reynolds from Erebus Motorsport to what was Kelly Grove Racing last season, where the team also fielded Andre Heimgartner in a NED Whisky-backed car.
NED continues with the squad in 2022 as a secondary sponsor, featuring on the bonnet and roof of both cars.
Grove Racing has announced its Penrite deal on Australia Day… and even dragged in media personality Sam Kekovich for the occasion!
“Penrite is a proudly Australian family-owned business, and we could not be happier to partner up with a like-minded, locally-owned Supercars race team,” said Penrite GM Toby Dymond.
“Australian manufacturing is very important to Penrite, so to be in a position to increase our support of a self-sufficient Supercars team like the Groves in a dream relationship.”
This year marks the team’s first under complete ownership of the Grove family, having taken over from the Kellys.
“Like all Supercars team, we want to win, and that will always be the aim, but first and foremost, we want to continue to grow, develop our Ford Mustangs and work our way up the grid,” said Stephen Grove.
“This year is about moving forward, improving the business, advancing the team and creating a sustainable and competitive future.”
AUDIO: Castrol Motorsport News Podcast, Episode 9
Reynolds, who finished 18th in the 2021 Supercars standings after missing two rounds late in the season, is looking forward to working with new recruit Holdsworth.
The two Bathurst winners have driven for Erebus Motorsport, Tickford Racing and Walkinshaw Racing, but never at the same time.
“I’ve known him for a very long time, but I’ve never actually worked alongside him, so it’ll be interesting to see how he conducts himself, drives the car and gives feedback,” said Reynolds.
“I’m very, very excited to have him.”
Having won Bathurst last December as co-driver to Chaz Mostert at Walkinshaw Andretti United, Holdsworth will get his first tastes of the Grove Mustang at a Winton test day on February 22.
“It’s hard to set an expectation at this stage,” he said.
“I think everyone aims to be in the top 10 first and foremost, but we’ll take it from there.
“I’m looking forward to stepping into the car to see what it’s like, the potential it has and we’ve got some good additions coming on this year with the engineering crew working hard to produce new parts to make these Mustangs go faster to be in a position to challenge for race wins.”
