Grove Racing re-signs Tander on multi-year deal

Grove Racing has announced that Garth Tander has been re-signed on a multi-year deal to remain the team's Strategic Advisor and endurance co-driver.

Tander joined the Grove team in 2023 after forming a successful partnership with Shane van Gisbergen at Red Bull Ampol Racing, and paired with David Reynolds in last year's endurance campaign.

Tander shifted across the garage to partner with Matt Payne this year, having mentored the 22-year-old Kiwi through his first two full-time campaigns in the Repco Supercars Championship.

Tander's mentorship of Payne provided immediate results, with the Kiwi claiming a breakout maiden win at last year's VAILO Adelaide 500, and claiming an equally spectacular win this year in Townsville to sit sixth in the standings.

Tander's 27 years of Supercars experience is set to be a valuable resource for Grove Racing's incoming driver Kai Allen, who is set to make his full-time Supercars debut next year at just 19 years old.

With Grove Racing set to field the youngest full-time driver line up since Perkins Engineering fielded Jack Perkins and Shane Price in 2007, Tander is excited by what lies ahead for the Melbourne operation.

"I’m excited to extend my relationship with Grove Racing into the future. I said when I initially joined the team that I had belief in where the team was headed, and nothing has changed there, hence it was an easy decision to continue with the team," Tander said.

"With Matt Payne continuing to flourish and the addition of Kai Allen joining the team in 2025, I see this as an opportunity share my experience and Supercars knowledge with them both, not only in regards to driving, but managing the entire race weekend and season. 

"It’s important to me to mentor young drivers in our sport, and obviously in our team. Not only Matt, who will be entering his third full time year in 2025, but also Kai who joins the team in ’25 for his rookie year. 

"It’s a tough championship and both Matt and Kai need to walk their own journey in their own careers. However, if I can help them try not to make the same mistakes I did when I was at that stage of my career, then I believe that will put them in good stead to achieve the levels of success that we know they are capable of.

"I wasn’t fortunate to have that mentor type when I was at the beginning of my career, and hopefully I can help accelerate some of the learnings required to succeed in Supercars. 

"The team is still a young team, there is a long way to go for this team to realise its potential, and I want to be part of that. The team has won some races in the last few years, but turning race wins into a championship tilt is the next challenge.

"With such a young driver line up next year, there are solid foundations to build upon. It is an exciting prospect to be part of. "

Grove Racing CEO Troy Bundy also welcomed the re-signing of the 2007 Supercars Championship winner, locking in a key contributor to the team's growth in recent years.

"Garth is an invaluable member of our leadership team, working closely with David Cauchi and Grant McPherson to achieve our strategic objectives. His role is crucial not only in reinforcing our on-track success but also in advancing our commercial initiatives to support the program's overall goals," Bundy said.

"Garth’s contributions are essential in driving our current projects forward and laying a strong foundation for future growth and innovation. His expertise and strategic insights significantly enhance our team’s effectiveness and position us for sustained success."

Grove Racing Team Principal David Cauchi is also excited to continue his relationship with Tander, which started when Cauchi engineered Shane van Gisbergen and Tander's Bathurst challenge in 2021.

"Garth has played a key role in the growth of Grove Racing since joining us in 2023. The value he adds inside the car speaks for itself," Cauchi expalined.

"Outside of the car, he has played an important role in supporting Matt through his first two years in the championship and this will be extended to Kai in 2025 and beyond.  

"Garth also contributes significantly to the leadership team and is a key asset for our partners. I look forward to continuing our relationship with Garth and developing our team into the future."