Penrite Racing signs rising star Allen

Penrite Racing has pulled off a significant coup, with the team signing rising star Kai Allen on a long-term deal.

Super2 champion Allen, who turned 19 in June, has been announced as outgoing driver Richie Stanaway’s replacement.

The teenager will partner Matt Payne, with the duo forming the youngest line-up on the Repco Supercars Championship grid. Allen will also reunite with the #26, which he carried through his junior career onto the Supercars ladder.

Mount Gambier-born Allen won last year’s Super2 title, and is currently in the box seat to become the first back-to-back winner of the series.

The Allen signing is a major domino in the driver market, with the focus set to turn to Dick Johnson Racing and PremiAir Racing.

Allen first linked up with DJR last year in a wildcard entry, and appeared set on a pathway to a full-time drive with the Ford team after being announced as a main game co-driver for 2024.

The teen will indeed race a Mustang in 2025, but instead, it will be with Grove Racing, which previously promoted Payne to the main game in 2023.

Current DJR drivers Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale are both off-contract, as is reigning champion Brodie Kostecki. Allen and Kostecki were both linked to DJR, with Allen now confirmed at Penrite Racing.

Despite the news of Allen signing with a rival, DJR Team Principal Ryan Story welcomed the news, saying he was "very excited" for the young driver.

“It’s pretty surreal! I’ve been racing since I was eight years old, maybe even younger, so I’m super grateful to finally be in a position that I’ve worked towards my whole life,” Allen said.

"It still hasn’t sunk in, but I’m sure come Round 1 next year that will all change. I can’t thank Stephen and Brenton enough for the opportunity. I feel like I’m joining a team that’s really on the way up and there’s some really great personnel on the team with so much experience.

"David Cauchi, Shippy [Grant McPherson], Garth [Tander], who are all massive names in this sport. My goal for the rest of this year is to tick Super2 off. That’s really important.

"It will also be valuable to do Sandown and Bathurst in the Gen3 car, just so I can be as comfortable as possible with that style of car before I join the team. Ultimately, I’m here to learn as much as possible.

"Matt’s a really talented driver so I’ll be doing my best to keep the team up the front and absorb as much as possible from him.

Allen will resume his Dunlop Series campaign at Sandown, where he will share the famous #17 with Davison.

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint on August 16-18. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

Live coverage can be found on Foxtel, with live streaming available on Kayo. Highlights will be shown on the Seven Network and 7plus. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.

2025 Repco Supercars Championship grid

What we know so far (as of August 6, 2024)