Allen a year older and a year wiser ahead of enduros

Current Super2 Series leader Kai Allen believes a combination of both his experience and the steady hand of Will Davison will leave them well placed for a strong enduro campaign.

After Grove Racing secured his services in a high-profile driver move in early August, Allen will pair up with Davison in the flagship Dick Johnson Racing #17 Ford.

Allen was thought by many to be a frontrunner to end up at DJR full-time next season, but the Stapylton outfit opted to bring in Brodie Kostecki alongside Davison for 2025.

Allen has been on a development deal with DJR that saw him make his Bathurst debut last season in a third DJR Mustang alongside Simona de Silvestro.

The 19-year-old comes into his Sandown 500 debut in a very different scenario to the one he found himself in last year.

Allen is currently on track to defend his Super2 crown from last year, combined with the added pressure of driving alongside Davison and the anticipation of his maiden full-time season in 2025.

Despite that, the South Australian is focused on the job at hand ahead of his Sandown 500 debut next weekend.

“It’s my second time, so less nerves. I’ve done it before, I know the procedures, a lot less to take in and just make sure I do my job properly,” Allen told Supercars.com.

“Will’s been really good, he’s got a bucketload of experience and he’s helping me get ready for the enduros. It’s a bit different to last year, being a wildcard, not as much pressure.

“This year I think we’ve got a really good shot to have a good result. We’ve just been going back and forth, working with each other on driving techniques, making sure stops are on the point and all our procedures are in place.

“I love getting along with him. He’s a good guy, as well as Tony and Anton, the whole team’s been great and I’m just looking forward to knuckling down at the enduros.”

Whilst his focus is on his current drives with DJR and Eggleston Motorsport in Super2, Allen also spoke about his big opportunity alongside Matt Payne next year.

Grove Racing will field the youngest full-time driver pairing since 2007, when Perkins Engineering promoted both Jack Perkins and Shane Price from their Super2 program.

“I’ve been working at this since I was six years old, I always wanted to be a V8 Supercar driver," Allen said.

“So to get a full-time main game seat next year is super exciting, but looking forward to enduros, got to do my job with Shell V-Power Racing Team and make sure I knuckle down and get that right.”

With one Bathurst campaign under his belt, Allen has taken key learnings from both in and out of the car into his latest enduro campaign with Davison.

A new, more methodical approach to his driving has paid dividends in Super2 this season, but Allen believes steps made in his physical preparation will be just as important.

“I know what to expect this year, which is really good, prepping my body and stuff has been a bit different to what I did last year, because I’ve learned what worked and what didn’t work," he said.

“I’m stoked to do both Super2 and the main game, getting Sandown as well. I only did Bathurst with the double duties last year, so to throw in another round will be pretty cool.

“It’s a bit of a slow start to the year, but now it really ramps up.”

Allen will be one of seven Super2 young guns performing double duties at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 from September 13-15. Tickets for the 60th anniversary event are on sale now.