Ex-Lowndes Holden for Super2 Porsche convert

Porsche youngster Brenton Grove will switch to the Dunlop Super2 Series this year, in Craig Lowndes’ 2017 Supercar.

Grove enters the second tier of Supercars with his family outfit and the Triple Eight-built VF Commodore raced by Lowndes last year, with support from Eggleston Motorsport.

The 20-year-old’s intent was outlined earlier this week, and the program has now been announced ahead of next month’s season opener in Adelaide.

“It’s such an amazing opportunity that I have for 2018,” Grove said.

“Originally, the plan was to do Carrera Cup however late last year we looked at Super2 and realised it was the smarter thing to do in the hope of forging a career in Supercars.

“I knew straight away that if there was an opportunity to do Super2 it was only going to have been with Grove Motorsport in an ex-Triple Eight Commodore.

“Triple Eight have shown their credentials over the last 10 years, so to be able to race in Craig’s car from last year is something I couldn’t pass up.”

The Commodore will be run independently of Eggleston, which will field the maximum-permissible four cars, with returnees Paul Dumbrell, Will Brown and Nathan Morcom already locked in.

Part of the Class B-winning line-up in last weekend’s Bathurst 12 Hour, Grove finished second in the 2017 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge before contesting two late-season Carrera Cup events.

That followed an Australian Formula 4 campaign in 2016, with the bulk of his other racing coming in Porsches in his native Victoria.

His only Supercars experience so far was a test in an MW Motorsport Nissan late last year.

“It’s going to be very different to what I’ve raced in the past,” added Grove.

“The cars are obviously right hand drive where the Porsche is left so there’s just a few small things that I will need to adjust to.

“It’s a learning year for me so I won't be putting any pressure on myself to start with.

“I just want to advance each time I drive the car and if I can do that i’ll be quite happy.”