Allen opens up on decision to sign with Groves
Supercars
07 Aug
Kai Allen opens up on Grove Racing decision
Reigning Super2 champion to join Grove Racing in 2025
Allen first linked with DJR since 2022 evaluation day
Kai Allen has voiced his excitement in joining the Grove Racing fold, amid speculation over his future and his ties to Dick Johnson Racing.
Allen had previously talked of his determination to secure a 2025 seat, and loomed as a key player in the driver market.
DJR long seemed a destination for the teenager, who first tested a Shell V-Power Supercar in 2022, before being called up in a wildcard for last year’s Great Race.
At the start of the year, DJR announced Allen alongside two-time Bathurst winner Will Davison for the enduros, marking the teenager’s first fully-fledged main game opportunity.
As time went on, Allen was keen to secure a 2025 seat, but according to the current Super2 points leader, DJR wasn’t yet in a position to make a call on next year.
Ultimately, the Groves came to the South Aussie with an offer he couldn’t refuse, and he pocketed it.
"I was looking for a main game drive next year, I felt I’d done enough in the Dunlop Series to make sure I was ready to go,” Allen told Supercars.com.
“This year was my year to break in. I looked at a few options, unfortunately DJR weren’t in a position to make a decision on their drivers for next year.
“I looked elsewhere, and the Groves came to me with a good offer, and I really couldn’t say no, I basically took it straight away.
“I’m excited to see what we can do, they’re a team on the up, as we’ve seen with Matty [Payne] doing really well, and they’ve got a lot of great personnel.
“I’m pumped to start working with them, and I can’t wait to get started.”
DJR Team Principal Ryan Story said he was “very excited” for Allen to secure a 2025 seat, even if it was with a rival team.
Allen expressed his gratitude to DJR, as well as Eggleston Motorsport, which helped the rising star break into the Supercars ladder in Super3 in 2022, setting him on the path for Super2 success.
“DJR has been really good to me, developing me from back last year doing the wildcard, and giving me an evaluation day the year before,” Allen said.
“I’m super grateful to be a part of DJR, but I’m also really excited to take that next step of my journey and join Grove Racing next year.
“But I also still have a job to do for DJR in the enduros, and in Super2 for the Egglestons. Ben and Rach [team owners] have been a massive part of my career, one of the biggest, besides my family. They’re like family.
"They care so much for up-and-coming talent. They put so much work in the scenes. To be a part of their family for the last few years has been really special.
"I know I'm going to miss them a lot next year, we’ve built this massive bond over the last couple of years, and I want to reward them this year with another title."
For Allen, the Grove deal is the culmination of an ambition which began when he was three years old, and the reward for his family’s sacrifices to help him chase his dream.
“It’s a pretty cool position to be in. It felt like yesterday I was racing Toyota 86s,” Allen said.
“I could only dream to talking to some of these teams. Now being able to talk to them about a main game drive is pretty special.
“When I saw my name on the Grove contract, it was a pretty surreal moment. It's been something I've been dreaming about since I was three years old.
“I’ve always been so passionate about cars and V8s, I remember walking around with matchbox cars, I feel I was born to be a racer.
“It’s been quite a cool little period, signing my first contract. It’s what my family and myself have worked so hard for, they’ve sacrificed so much to get me to where we are today.
“To finally have that ticked off is… yeah, I can't put into words, really. It's relief and excitement, but this is where the hard work starts. I can't back off now, I've gotta dig deep.”
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.
