First look at Penrite Racing Gen3 Fords

Penrite Racing has revealed progress of the first new cars built under the team’s Grove Racing guise.

The team will campaign two Ford Mustangs for David Reynolds and rookie Matt Payne in 2023.

Reynolds raced the Kelly-built chassis KR011, and Lee Holdsworth chassis KR010, in 2022.

The ongoing builds mark the first brand new cars built under full Grove ownership, which began last year.

The Grove builds are being overseen by former Porsche Motorsport Australia Sporting and Technical Manager Stephen Robertson.

Robertson, who joined the team in early 2022, was appointed Project Manager of the Gen3 build for Penrite Racing.

Robertson has additional responsibilities — including the development of the team’s infrastructure — and is working closely with Technical Director Grant McPherson.

Robertson (R) with McPherson

The PACE Innovations-built chassis have been painted and are being prepared for the next build stage.

Team Principal David Cauchi said adding the panels to the cars is the next stage as more componetry is built.

“We had the chassis turn up from PACE Innovations,” Cauchi said.

“They turn up raw [and] there’s a little bit of prep work that needed to be done.

"Then we sent them off to paint [and] now they’re back here and we are starting to bolt on all the various parts.

“There’s still a lot of things being made and a lot if things being assembled behind the scenes as well.

“Slowly we’ll start to see more parts going on to the car.”

The Grove chassis reveal comes after the Blanchard Racing Team uncovered the most revealing Gen3 build yet.

BRT last week showed off its near-complete Mustang, which has also had its 5.4-litre engine installed.

BRT and Penrite Racing are part of an expanded Ford fleet of 11 cars.

The two Melbourne teams are joined on the Blue Oval side by Dick Johnson Racing, Tickford Racing and newcomers Walkinshaw Andretti United.

Penrite Racing is scheduled to roll out its first Gen3 car at a Winton shakedown on February 2.

Victorian teams will test at Winton on February 7 before an all-in test in Sydney on February 22.

"Next will be the body work,” Cauchi continued.

“The roof is one of the first things that will get bolted on to the car and then all the other panels can then follow from that.

"A lot of suspension is now getting built. The guys are working at the back on the gearbox and getting all the wiring loom for the rear firewall installed.

“Then in not too long we’ll have a car that we can go racing with and have some fun."

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle on March 10-12.

Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.