STEPHEN Grove has lauded his team’s breakthrough Repco Supercars Championship race win at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
Although the Groves were 50 percent owners of Kelly Grove Racing in 2021 when Andre Heimgartner delivered victory at The Bend, they’re counting this as win number one, having taken full control at the start of last year.
There’s been many close calls along the way, with 10 second- or third-place results in the past 18 months.
Perhaps that made David Reynolds’ triumph yesterday all the sweeter.
“What a great weekend. Finally,” said Stephen Grove.
“We’ve got the monkey off our back and hopefully we can take some more wins. Adelaide is next and it’s another street circuit.”
It’s been well documented how the Ford squad has overhauled its personnel and tipped funds into heightening resources, and they believe the dividends are now starting to show.
“The win is confirmation we’re doing the right thing. We’re heading in the right direction so we’ve just got to keep building and executing,” said Grove.
“We’ve always taken a long-term approach and you have to work through the process.
“This is the reward.”
Capping a superb weekend, rookie Matt Payne qualified second and third and finished ninth and fourth in further promising signs of what’s ahead for the 21-year-old Kiwi.
With Reynolds heading to Team 18 next year, Payne will count 2023 Bathurst 1000 winner Richie Stanaway as his next teammate.
