Stanaway set for competitive Grove debut

Penrite Racing recruit Richie Stanaway is set for his first competitive outing with Grove Racing in next month's Gulf 12 Hours.

Stanaway, who won the Repco Bathurst 1000 last month, will replace Team 18-bound David Reynolds at Penrite Racing.

The New Zealander recently got some laps at a post-Gold Coast ride day with the team and its Gen3 Ford Mustangs, but will get competitive laps before the new season.

The New Zealander will share a Porsche 911 GT3 R with team owners Stephen and Brenton Grove in a 12-hour race at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit.

The Gulf 12 Hours is scheduled to take place on December 8-10, with Stanaway to drive a Porsche for the first time.

The Kiwi has experience in GT3 cars, steering Triple Eight Mercedes-SMG machinery throughout 2023. Stanaway also won for Aston Martin in the LMGTE Pro class of the World Endurance Championship.

The former open-wheel ace also scored a class podium with Triple Eight at the Bathurst 12 Hour earlier this year.

For Stephen Grove, the race is a chance for Stanaway to bed himself into the team and build relationships ahead of a big 2024.

"Dave has done a great job for us this year and we’re excited to have Richie Stanaway joining us for 2024,” Grove said. 

"He is racing with us in the Gulf 24 Hour in Abu Dhabi in a couple of weeks, sharing the driving with Brenton and myself.

The Groves are no strangers to GT3 competition, notably contesting the full Intercontinental GT Challenge season this year.

Father and son Stephen and Brenton Grove, who now have three Supercars wins to their name as owners, have raced a Porsche with Anton De Pasquale or Earl Bamber.

Penrite Racing heads into 2024 as race winners, with Matt Payne winning the VAILO Adelaide 500 on Sunday.