BEING one of the highest profile drivers yet to have a 2023 Repco Supercars Championship seat announced is not bothering Bathurst 1000 winner David Reynolds.
Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale this week became the latest names to be formally taken off the market with renewals confirmed for both Shell V-Power Racing Team drivers.
While a degree of doubt has hovered over the futures of Supercars champions Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney, Reynolds’ situation has largely flown under the radar.
Having pieced together a fine season headlined by six podiums, Reynolds – who Grove Racing is understood to have a team option on – is expected to stay, while Matt Payne is tipped to be promoted from Super2 at Lee Holdsworth’s expense.
Asked by V8 Sleuth if he was comfortable with how things are shaping up for 2023, Reynolds was confident and convincing: “yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m good for next year.”
Following long stints at Tickford Racing and Erebus Motorsport, the 37-year-old has found himself a happy home in the Grove camp.
“I love working for the Groves and the team,” he said.
“They’re good people and they give it everything. I just want to make them proud and win races for them.
“Next year is going to be Gen3, which is a completely new car, a completely new set of rules you have got to play in, which is going to be interesting to find out who does the best job over summer. It’s going to be fun.”
As for the timing of sorting a new deal, Reynolds calmly replied: “when it happens, it happens.”
Team principal David Cauchi reiterated there’s no rush from their end.
“We haven’t finalised our line-up exactly for next year; we’ve got a few options that we’re considering,” Cauchi told V8 Sleuth.
“We haven’t put an exact drop-dead date on finalising all of that yet.
“Everybody knows where they stand and what the situation is and we’ll make our decision when the time is right.
“We’re still working out exactly what our team is going to look like for 2023 and we talk about that quite regularly.
“When the time is right and we’re comfortable with it, we’ll let everyone know.”
Payne will drive the #10 Penrite Mustang tomorrow during an additional driver practice session at Sandown, in preparation for co-driving with Holdsworth at the Repco Bathurst 1000 in October.
MORE: Grove Racing makes Bathurst co-driver switch
Holdsworth has been linked to a potential switch to the Blanchard Racing Team next year in place of Tim Slade, who is tipped to move to PremiAir Racing.
The 39-year-old returned to full-time driving with Grove Racing in 2022 after a year as a co-driver, in which he won the Bathurst 1000 alongside Chaz Mostert.
Addressing his future in a Penrite preview video ahead of his 500th Supercars start this weekend, Holdsworth hinted he’s keen to race on.
“I still think that I’m as fit as I’ve ever been, I think I’m racing better than I ever have,” he said.
“I’m sure that as this year pans out, I’ll know what sort of future lies ahead for me.
“Last year made me kick myself up the arse and get a move on with life outside of racing. I’ve got a job there, part-time in real estate.
“That’s ramping up but I’m not sure I’m ready just yet to hang up the boots.”
