Co-drive setting Stanaway up for 2024
Stanaway will race for Penrite Racing in 2024
Kiwi was last full-time with Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2019
Van Gisbergen and Stanaway raced from 19th to third in Sandown 500
A plumb co-drive with Red Bull Ampol Racing is proving a great platform for Richie Stanaway ahead of his 2024 full-time comeback.
Stanaway will return to the full-time fold with Penrite Racing next season, having retired from racing at the end of 2019.
The New Zealander scored a co-drive with Shane van Gisbergen off the back of a strong wildcard showing in Bathurst last year.
On Sunday, van Gisbergen and Stanaway had it all to do starting 19th for the Penrite Oil Sandown 500, and they duly raced to the podium.
It was Stanaway’s first Supercars podium since the 2017 Gold Coast 600, when he was with Tickford Racing alongside Cam Waters, with whom he won the Sandown 500.
Stanaway has just one more start with van Gisbergen — next month’s Repco Bathurst 1000 — before he shifts to full-time preparations with Penrite Racing, replacing David Reynolds.
The 31-year-old has been entrenched in the Triple Eight garage all season, testing the #97 Camaro and getting to know the team. However, in the wake of signing with Penrite Racing, his gaze has also expanded to keep an eye on 2024.
“It’s good to be racing [at Sandown] and then at Bathurst,” Stanaway said.
“It’s better than being home watching on TV, which I’m pretty well used to the last few years.
“Usually when you come here as a co-driver, you’re very much sitting back and in the different role.
“But I came here with a very different mentality knowing I’m going to be here next year, and driving at the end.”
Stanaway fought in the mid-pack during Sunday’s race, and notably avoided a big incident when the sister car of Craig Lowndes was crossed up at Turn 5 after contact with Jaylyn Robotham.
Van Gisbergen took over and fought into the top five, before taking third in the closing laps thanks to an error by Erebus Motorsport’s Will Brown.
It was a smart result given van Gisbergen's qualifying woes, which came just weeks after the reigning champion crashed the car heavily in testing after a high-speed brake failure.
“It’s been incredible to be a part of this team,” Stanaway said of Triple Eight.
“I couldn’t ask for a much better garage to be in, I’ve loved every minute of it.
"I only get two gos at it with this team, it’d be a shame to waste it by not getting on the podium.
“Just really pleased we could come through today, it wasn’t an easy race, fortunately we got there in the end.”
