Proof Groves have returned Reynolds to career-best form
Through five rounds, beyond Shane van Gisbergen, no driver has made quite an impact like David Reynolds.
While winless so far this season, Reynolds is edging towards career-best numbers.
The Penrite Racing veteran is currently fifth in the championship, but it could be even better.
Through 15 races, he has missed the top 10 just four times, each arguably not of his own doing.
Reynolds suffered a car issue in Sydney, was spun by Mark Winterbottom in Tasmania and retired due to damage at Albert Park.
A top 10 was snatched away in Perth after a late Safety Car benefited drivers on fresher rubber.
If you add together the points lost in those four races, Reynolds has benched 136 points.
He is currently 129 points behind second-placed Anton De Pasquale.
Yes, that’s right; Reynolds could be as high as second in the championship!
It’s a remarkable turnaround in form; after five rounds in 2021, he was 15th overall, some 717 points from the championship lead.
Reynolds’ qualifying average of 6.7 is bettered by 6.0 in 2015, and 6.3 in 2018.
Those two seasons are his best; he finished third overall for Prodrive in 2015, and fifth for Erebus in 2018.
When it comes to race averages, his 8.2 is again only bettered by 7.0 in both 2015 and 2018.
The overall consistency is also in Reynolds’ corner; already in 2022, he has 11 top 10s in 15 starts.
Last season, Reynolds managed just eight top 10s in 24 starts.
In 2020, his final season with Erebus Motorsport, he recorded 12 top 10 finishes from 27 starts.
His best haul came in 2015, when he recorded 30 top 10s in 26 starts. He managed 23 top 10s in 2018 and 2019.
Crucially, Reynolds has been able to convert pace to silverware. He already has six podiums; he stood on the podium in Tasmania, Melbourne and Winton.
One more podium, and he matches his seven-podium hauls from 2015 and 2019.
Two more, and he equals his career-best haul of nine from 2018, a season which included three wins.
Therein lies the final hurdle for Reynolds and Grove Racing: race victories.
Darwin was a nightmare for the team last year; Reynolds and Andre Heimgartner struggled to crack the top 20.
However, given Penrite Fords have been on the pace at every round this season, Darwin offers the best chance yet for Reynolds to break his duck.
The 2017 Bathurst winner’s last victory came on the streets of Newcastle at the end of 2018.
Consecutive podiums at Winton
According to team boss David Cauchi, the confidence is now there to expect to convert at Hidden Valley.
“That’s the whole key, to be consistent,” Cauchi told Supercars’ Cool Down Lap podcast.
“To turn up to every race weekend and be able to have a competitive car, and get results and podiums.
“We're learning a lot; every weekend, we’re learning fast.
“We’re starting to build some confidence and consistency.
"Now we can go to Darwin with confidence that we can be competitive."
The 2022 season will resume in Darwin next month. Purchase your tickets now.
