Kelly: Reynolds an 'extremely strong asset'

Kelly Grove Racing team principal and co-owner Todd Kelly believes the team has signed an "extremely good asset" in David Reynolds.

The team confirmed ex-Erebus ace Reynolds for the 2021 season, with the 2017 Bathurst winner moving back to the team he drove for in 2011.

Penrite Oil also moves to KGR to back Reynolds' car, with the oil company ending its title sponsorship of Erebus earlier this month.

Reynolds will turn 36 in July, and hasn’t won a race since the 2018 season finale in Newcastle.

A torrid 2020 season saw him fail to record a podium finish for the first time in a season since 2011 which, coincidentally, was during his first stint with Kelly Racing.

However, much has changed for Reynolds since 2011, with the popular driver earning seven wins and 13 pole positions, none greater than his successes on the mountain.

Reynolds steered Penrite-backed Erebus Commodores to victory in 2017 and pole in 2018, affirming his standing as one of the key talents on the grid.

Despite Reynolds' recent lack of results, Kelly believes his team has emerged the winner, with the driver "unbelievably happy" with the new deal.

"It’s fantastic to have Dave joining the team, he’s a driver with a lot of experience under his belt and who’s had a lot of success during his career in Supercars so far," Kelly said.

"I believe that with the direction the team is heading in and our ambitions for the future, Dave will be an extremely strong asset who will have the ability to achieve strong results immediately and also compliment Andre and help him to continue his development path.

"I think with the driver line-up we’ve landed with, both drivers will push each other to succeed, as was the case with Rick and Andre last season, which is exactly what we were after when deciding on what direction to go in."

Kelly was also pleased to lock in Penrite, with its facility just down the road from KGR’s Braeside headquarters.

"It’s also fantastic to have Penrite on-board, they’re a great Australian-owned and operated business," he said.

"All of the oil is actually processed at their facility which is only 20-minutes up the road from our factory.

"There are a lot of similarities between our two businesses, both being family-owned and operated with a real passion for motorsport.

"There are some great synergies there and we’re really excited to work with them."

Reynolds will make his racing debut for KGR at the 2021 season opener, the Mt Panorama 500, across February 26-28.