Tander wants Sandown redemption after 2023 disaster

One year on from his nightmare first race in Ford colours, Garth Tander is keen to reach the Sandown podium in what looms as a critical weekend for Penrite Racing.

The 2007 champion will race with rising star Matt Payne at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 and Repco Bathurst 1000, with the duo combining in a formidable pairing.

Tander has been a force since becoming a co-driver in 2019, winning Bathurst (2020 and 2022) and Gold Coast (2019), and challenging for wins at every other turn.

Come 2023, and Tander made a leap of faith to the Blue Oval and Grove Racing, and it immediately seemed to have paid dividends after running towards the front at Sandown.

Starting eighth with David Reynolds, Tander had worked his way to fourth by lap 19 when the left rear wheel parted company through the fast esses section, pitching the Penrite Ford into the wall.

After so much hope and build-up, Tander's first Ford start lasted all of 20 minutes, setting the stage for redemption next weekend.

“Obviously exciting time of the year, particularly for myself, being back in the driver's seat,” Tander told Supercars.com at Tuesday’s test day.

Tander and Reynolds recovered from a penalty to finish fifth in Bathurst, leaving several 'what ifs' hanging over Tander's potential with the team.

There will also be plenty of attention on the Grove squad, which will carry Penrite naming rights at the Penrite-backed Sandown enduro.

On the goal for 2024, Tander said: “Obviously, a great result for the team would be on the podium.

"We're still a very young team, young organisation, still got a lot of development to go in the whole business. So for us, being on the podium's the ambition.

“But hey, we're here to go winning, we're here to win races and there'll be nothing better than winning the Penrite Sandown 500 in a Penrite Ford Mustang.”

A veteran of over 600 starts, racer turned broadcaster Tander is excited to race with Payne, who previously labelled the veteran driver his "dad" mentor.

At 192cm to Payne's 190cm, Tander feels comfortable with Payne and the #19 Ford, which has already been taken to victory lane in Townsville in July.

"Matt's had a great year this year so far. Won some races, been out the front a whole lot, and certainly matured more 12 months further down the road,” said Tander, the 2016 Sandown 500 winner.

“Dimensionally we're identical. Like, we can literally wear each other's driving suits. That's how close we are in size. So it's great to be able to jump back in a car and it all fits and feel comfortable.

“Last year with Dave, who was about four foot tall, we had to compromise our seating position a little bit, but ergonomically it's great as well."