Penrite Racing announces Stanaway exit

Richie Stanaway will not race for Penrite Racing in 2025, with the Ford team confirming the Bathurst winner's contract will not be renewed.

Stanaway joined the Grove squad in 2024 following a four-season hiatus from full-time Supercars competition.

The New Zealander secured a seat on the grid with Penrite Racing before he won the Repco Bathurst 1000 with Shane van Gisbergen, replacing Team 18-bound David Reynolds.

Through seven rounds, Stanaway sits 13th, eight positions behind teammate Matt Payne. Payne has four podiums including a win in Townsville, and poles at the Grand Prix and Taupō. Payne leads the qualifying head-to-head 15-1, and the race head-to-head 10-5.

In a Penrite Racing statement, the team said a replacement driver "will be announced in due course."

"Grove Racing can confirm that Richie Stanaway’s contract will not be renewed for Season 2025," the team statement reads.

"Richie will continue as our main-game driver for the remainder of the 2024 season, and we will endeavour to support Richie to perform at the level that we know he is capable of.  

"The team’s current priority is to finish the 2024 season as strong as possible, and maximise our position in the teams' championship. 

"The driver of Car #26 for Season 2025 will be announced in due course."

The Stanaway news is the first key domino in what could prove to be a bumper silly season, with a number of drivers coming off-contract at the end of the season.

Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale are off-contract at Dick Johnson Racing, along with reigning champion Brodie Kostecki (Erebus Motorsport), Mark Winterbottom (Team 18) and Tim Slade (PremiAir Nulon Racing).

Super2 champion Kai Allen is also hot property, with the teenager already linked to DJR through his co-drive with two-time Bathurst winner Davison.