BRAVE.
That’s one word that could be used to describe Grove Racing’s recruitment of Richie Stanaway for a full-time tilt at the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship.
Different teams have different needs when it comes to the silly season, and for ever-ambitious Grove Racing, it’s about getting to the front as soon as possible.
The Groves have invested heavily since taking over Kelly Racing, both in terms of personnel and infrastructure.
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They have rebuilt their crew around championship-winning pedigree in team principal David Cauchi, technical director Grant McPherson and co-driver/mentor Garth Tander, and are in the process of delivering a major overhaul of their Braeside base.
So, when it became clear that David Reynolds was not going to return in 2024, opting for the safety of a multi-year Team 18 opportunity, the Groves had two choices: also play it safe, or roll the dice.
They went with the latter, and kudos to them because it is not something often done in Supercars.
Too often teams go for the comfort of a known quantity, pinching people or sponsors from elsewhere in pitlane, rather than chasing something new and exciting.
Perhaps mediocrity is more acceptable than risking total failure to go for absolute glory.
That’s what the Groves have done with Stanaway, and it’s an enticing prospect, because it genuinely is hard to know how their partnership will go.
Could he be a race winner in 2024? A top 10 championship contender? Or are we about to see a third and final disaster in his Supercars career? Your guess is as good as ours.
Stanaway is super talented (see the Formula 2/Formula 3/World Endurance Championship chapters of his resume) but it has never quite worked out for him before in Supercars, through a mix of poor environments and an attitude lacking.
Many believe he’s better for his two-plus years away from the spotlight in retirement.
Whether that’s still the case when the chips are down, only time will tell.
But the point still stands; the Groves have got themselves in the game for 2024 by putting it all on the line.
While an excellent qualifier and consistent racer, there’s a feeling that someone like a Reynolds probably isn’t going to win a championship if he hasn’t already done so by now.
But Stanaway might. And so too might Matt Payne, who is showing promising signs as a 20-year-old in his rookie season.
What’s more is the Groves are perfectly placed to take the Stanaway gamble.
Triple Eight and Erebus Motorsport probably couldn’t, given they are out-and-out championship contenders unable to afford one of their drivers potentially flopping.
Maybe nor could Matt Stone Racing, now that they’ve finally become competitive and are in need of a proven performer to lead their 2024 charge in lieu of Jack Le Brocq.
Grove, on the other hand? Right now, the only way is up given they are 10th in the teams’ championship, and they have the resources to move forwards.
So, why not take an educated punt?
Whichever way it turns out, the Stanaway/Grove combination adds an unmissable element of intrigue about next season.
