Tander secures Sydney Porsche cameo

Garth Tander will get valuable miles under his belt ahead of the enduros, with the Penrite Racing co-driver to make a Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship cameo in Sydney.

Five-time Bathurst winner Tander, who will share the #19 Penrite Ford with Matt Payne at Sandown and Bathurst, will race at Sydney Motorsport Park next weekend.

Tander will be joined by three-time Pro-Am champion Stephen Grove, who will make his first Carrera Cup race start since 2022 at the Sydney event.

Supercars legend Tander will return for a second solo-driver cameo aboard a sister Grove Racing-entered 992 GT3 Cup Car in the Pro class. Both cars will run under the Grove Racing banner and will be prepared by Earl Bamber Motorsport.

The Porsche category will compete in Sydney for the first time since 2018, with Tander making his first start in the series since finishing 10th, ninth and fourth in the three Tailem Bend races last August.

Tander will also compete against newly signed Penrite Racing co-driver Dale Wood, who has been paired with 2023 Bathurst winner Richie Stanaway.

“It’s great to be back in Carrera Cup,” said 2007 Supercars champion Tander, who has tested with Penrite Racing this year.

"I had a great run last year at Tailem Bend and the preparations for me I found last years races were really beneficial, this time at Sydney motorsport Park. Different track but one I’ve done plenty of miles at.

“I didn’t know the 992 hadn’t run at Sydney Motorsport Park prior to turning up for a test day so it probably does help a little bit.

“But given all the championship drivers have been in the car all year and I’m stepping in for one, I’m not sure it’s a completely level playing field, but it probably helps me just slightly."

Grove, whose Supercars team won last weekend in Townsville courtesy of Payne, added: “It’s been a long while since I’ve raced Carrera Cup but we took the car out and did a test at Sandown a couple of weeks ago and it just felt like home.

“For me it’s about enjoyment this year. I’m certainly outside of the championship probability by about three rounds, but just to come back again, learn the tracks again and then we’ll see next year and have a really bit tilt at it.

“But more than anything else what is really, really important to me is to have some fun. We’re heavily involved in motorsport in our program overseas with GT3, we have the Supercar team and we have this whole avenue of motorsport.”

Track action in Sydney will commence on Friday July 19.