Grove, DJR bosses weigh in on Gold Coast protests

Grove Racing and Dick Johnson Racing bosses have opened up on the protests that made headlines at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

Grove Racing protested both Tickford Racing entries — which finished first and second — and DJR’s #17 entry after Saturday’s race.

The three Fords were found to have breached pit lane operational rules, which state that wheels must be placed between the axle centre lines of the car during pit stops.

On Sunday morning, both Walkinshaw Andretti United cars and DJR’s #11 were also found to have breached the rule, following further investigation by Motorsport Australia and Supercars.

All cars were fined and docked teams' championship points. Crucially, Penrite Racing jumped the Shell V-Power Racing Team in the standings.

Speaking after Sunday’s race, Penrite Racing Team Principal David Cauchi says his team had “no choice” but to protest fellow Ford teams.

"Rules are rules, we’ve all got to play by the rules,” Cauchi said on the broadcast.

“They all impact performance. It’s so tight as you can see, we’re all fighting for the smallest marginal gains.

“Unfortunately, Supercars didn’t really act after they’d seen it, so it left us with no choice but to act on it.”

Heading to Adelaide, Tickford leads WAU by 337 points, with Penrite Racing 429 behind. Penrite Racing is 144 points ahead of DJR, which lost more ground due to Anton De Pasquale’s Sunday DNF.

De Pasquale was the only retirement of the weekend after being caught up in the lap 1 multi-car accident at Turn 11.

When asked on Supercars.com’s Schick Cool Down Lap podcast about Ford teams protesting Ford teams, DJR Team Principal Dr Ryan Story was pensive.

"Oh look, as the Bard said in Act 2, Scene 1 of The Tempest, ‘What's past is prologue'. It is what it is,” Story said.

"When we go racing and we shut the lids of our helmets, we're all about getting the best result for our individual teams, and so be it."

DJR CEO David Noble added: “We just focus on trying to get ourselves up the ladder. As you can see, we've got a lot to review for ourselves, let alone worry about all the other shenanigans going on.

"But for us, it's just about learning from the weekend, preparing for Adelaide, and trying to finish the season with a strong podium."

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will be decided at the season-ending VAILO Adelaide 500 on November 14-17. Tickets are on sale now.