Allen building for 2025 after 'quick-fire' debut

Grove Racing recruit Kai Allen is already in the midst of preparations for his maiden full-time season in the Repco Supercars Championship after a whirlwind debut at the VAILO Adelaide 500.

Having been signed to the team on a multi-year deal after brilliant start to his Super2 title defence at the start of the season, the 19-year-old received an unexpected call-up after a dramatic Friday qualifying session.

Richie Stanaway, who is on the move to PremiAir Racing next year, thumped the wall at Turn 8 in a 52G impact, before being followed in rapid succession by Cameron Hill and David Reynolds.

On Saturday the Kiwi was ruled out with a concussion, with Allen initially called up before being deemed ineligible due to his Super2 commitments, with Dale Wood stepping up at the last minute.

An overnight change in regulations gave Allen a belated opportunity to get a headstart on 2025, performing admirably to finish 22nd after qualifying 19th.

Allen linked up with the Grove Racing outfit again on Thursday at an evaluation day at Winton, allowing the 2023 Super2 champion time to properly settle in with the team and build towards the Sydney Opening Round next year.

"It's good to get some laps in the car, especially after Adelaide was a bit quick-fire," said Allen.

"The seat fit was good, it was good to get into the car. Especially after Adelaide, we got 85 laps to work out where the niggles were and everything.

"We did a fair bit of work at the workshop, the guys are really good to work with in making sure I'm super comfortable as much as I can be.

"It's been really good, I've had no issues at all today, ha no changes, so it's been really good to put in that work at the workshop to make sure that we're nice and comfy.

"There's a few things that I've changed since Adelaide, we've changed my pedals a little bit to be comfortable and to suit my driving style, and as well as my steering wheel, and getting used to the dash and everything."

Allen's Adelaide cameo helped Grove Racing finish fourth in the teams' standings in 2024, ahead of Ford homologation team Dick Johnson Racing, with whom Allen had been on a development deal.

Having paired with Will Davison in the #17 Mustang at this year's enduros, the teenager is ready to learn from some of the best in the business at a team that has been building since entering the sport in 2022.

"It's been really good to work with guys like Shippy [Grant McPherson] and [David] Cauchi as well, they've been great. They've got a lot of experience," Allen added.

"Me being so young coming into main game, it's very competitive at the moment, it's probably the highest level motorsport in the world, and there's some very good guys in there.

"It's going to be hard for me, I'm a little bit behind in experience, but I'm sure I've got the best guys around me to make sure I'm in the best spot I can be going into Sydney next year, so I can't wait."

Allen will be paired with 22-year-old Kiwi Matt Payne in the Penrite-backed team next year, with the pair making up the youngest full-time driver pairing in Supercars since 2007.

Payne, already a two-time race winner having completed just his second season this year, has grown immensely under the guidance of Garth Tander, with Allen already experiencing the benefits of the Kiwi's experience.

"It's also been really good to work with Matty, he's starting to get a few years under his belt, and he's been throwing around a few really good results," Allen said.

"Having him as a bit of a leader in the team has been really good for me, it's good to look up to Matty and also work with him and get an understanding of where things are at.

"At test days like this it's good to have him alongside me to make sure I'm stepping in the right direction with my feedback and inputs in the car, and also getting tips off him with driving and things to look out for in this car.

"It's a bit of challenge, but I've got a lot of good people behind me and it's been great working with Matty so far. He's a good lad, he's very funny so we're having plenty of fun along the way, but we're still knuckling down and making sure we're learning lots on these days because we're important.

"Hopefully we can continue that partnership and have a bit of fun over the break, and then we can keep working together and see where we are at the start of the year."

Kai Allen's maiden full-time season in the Repco Supercars Championship will begin at the 2025 Sydney Opening Round from February 21-23. Tickets for the event are on sale now.