STEPHEN Grove has provided more insight into his team’s decision to sign Richie Stanaway for the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship.
Stanaway will slot in alongside Matt Payne next year at Grove Racing, with David Reynolds moving to Team 18.
There has been plenty of speculation around whether title sponsor Penrite will move with Reynolds, and subsequently if long-time Stanaway supporter Boost Mobile might return to the grid in their place.
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Grove shot down such conjecture, declaring that hadn’t been a consideration.
“One of the things I’ve always done from day one, is I have always differentiated between a driver and his ability to drive the car, and the commercial side of the business,” he told V8 Sleuth.
“I never have put those two things together; one has never been reliant on the other. We would never take a driver based on a commercial decision for a sponsor, and we would never take a sponsor based on a commercial decision for a driver.
“For me, they are completely two different areas, so we haven’t had any discussion with Boost about that and there has been no tie-in for any sponsor.
“We have just taken Richie purely on his merits.”
Grove had been adamant that he would not opt for another stopgap option, a promise he has come good on.
“It was important for us to get a driver that could do two things,” he explained.
“Someone that could be challenging for podiums and wins was really important for us; and somebody that brought the raw speed that we need to help us develop the car and work as a partner for Matty.
“Richie ticked all of those boxes.”
In addition to co-driving with Shane van Gisbergen, Stanaway’s current Triple Eight deal has given him the opportunity to return to GT3 racing, making starts in the Australian and Asian editions of GT World Challenge as well as in the Bathurst 12 Hour.
The 31-year-old former Aston Martin factory driver is likely to get more of those types of opportunities next year with the Groves.
“I’ve always been a supporter of doing as many kilometres as you can, as long as it’s related to the racing that we do,” said Grove.
“So moving forward, I would hope to do some GT racing with Richie overseas when the calendar permits.”
