Grove Junior Team lock in three-driver squad for 2022

The newly-established Grove Junior Team has announced two young karters will join its development programme for 2022.

Oscar Targett, 15, and Mika LeMasurier, 13, will join inaugural inductee Matthew Payne, in the Kelly Grove Racing-run operation.

It comes as 19-year-old Payne is set for his Dunlop Super2 Series debut at this weekend’s Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.

The Grove Junior Team, which opened for applications last month, is aimed at developing Australian and New Zealand drivers at the beginning of their motorsport careers to aid their journey to the Repco Supercars Championship.

Five shortlisted drivers were evaluated and interviewed to understand where their passions lie as well as their values, fit, and aspirations, according to the team.

Judged by Stephen and Brenton Grove, along with Supercars driving standards advisor Craig Baird and Kelly Grove Racing commercial director Gavan Wills, two inductees were selected to join Payne.

Targett has achieved success in the Australian Micro Max Championship and progressed through a number of Australian Karting competitions to compete in KZ2.

“I’m super excited, Brenton and Stephen have encouraged me a lot today to further my career in all aspects,” said Targett.

“They run a great team here and they are very willing to help me and all the other people they plan on inducting into the Grove Junior Team programme.

“I think their assistance will help me throughout, not only the next step in my career, but my entire career and hopefully all the way into Supercars.”

LeMasurier has recorded club, state and national podiums across his karting career, including a second-place finish in the AKC Round 2 at The Bend.

“I am extremely humbled to be given this opportunity at such a young age,” LeMasurier said.

“I am proud to be representing the Grove Junior Team. To be selected within the team alongside Oscar and Matt is something I am very excited about.

Mika LeMasurier will join the Grove Junior Team in 2022

“I am ready to learn and grow with the team and I look forward to becoming the best driver I can be so I can progress my career in motorsport.

“Thanks Stephen, Brenton, Gavan and Craig for believing in me.’’

Grove Junior Team inductees will receive a contribution to their racing budgets, in an effort to fast-track the careers of young talented drivers.

At the start of 2021, the Groves formed an alliance with Supercars Championship team Kelly Racing, with the team set to be a solely Grove-run operation from 2022.

“It’s exciting to be able to identify, support and develop young kids into the programme, so to get the two of them is a source of great pride,” said Stephen Grove.

“There’s a three-year split between each driver so the ability for each junior to learn off one another is another benefit of establishing the programme.

Targett (centre) will join the development programme in 2022

“We are extremely happy with our selections and look forward to supporting their racing programme for 2022 and beyond.”

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will resume this weekend at the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.

Every session of the event will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 506) and streamed on Kayo.

The Seven Network will provide live free to air coverage of the event.

Tickets for the event are on sale now.