Stanaway cuts first laps in Penrite Racing Mustang

Newly-minted Bathurst winner Richie Stanaway has turned his first laps in a Grove Racing Ford, with the Kiwi lapping a Penrite Mustang at a ride day.

Ahead of the Kiwi's return to full-time Supercars racing in 2024, Stanaway joined his new team at Queensland Raceway on Tuesday.

Stanaway was announced as Team 18-bound David Reynolds’ replacement at Penrite Racing before he partnered with compatriot Shane van Gisbergen to win this year’s Great Race.

The Tauranga native got his first taste of Grove Racing machinery on Tuesday during a corporate ride day at Queensland Raceway. There, Stanaway drove the same car Reynolds raced to victory on Sunday at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

Having contested the 2023 enduros in a Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet Camaro, Stanaway has become the latest driver to steer both Gen3 Supercars. 

Next year, Stanaway will race alongside another Kiwi in 21-year old Matt Payne, who himself was a star on the Gold Coast last weekend, qualifying in the top three for both races and posting a career-best fourth place finish in Sunday’s Race 26.

“It's been incredible to join the team and meet everyone,” Stanaway said in a Speedcafe.com social video.

“Yeah, it's got a fantastic vibe here, so I'm really looking forward to racing with the team next year.

“It's just nice to get the ball rolling here at Penrite Racing and meet the team and get a feel for the car. The differences in the car are very subtle.”

Stanaway’s return to Supercars marks a dramatic turnaround for the 31-year old, who formally retired from racing at the end of the 2019 season following two difficult full seasons with Tickford Racing and Garry Rogers Motorsport.

A wildcard effort in the 2022 Bathurst 1000 saw Stanaway return to Supercars and shine on Friday, qualifying fifth in wet conditions at Mount Panorama, before he finished 11th in the race with Greg Murphy.

After the ride day, Stanaway will head to the Ford team’s Braeside facility in Melbourne as he readies for 2024.

"The priority for today is entertaining our sponsors and partners, there's no stopwatch out there,” he added.

"Obviously on a race weekend, there's tenths and hundredths separating the cars, so on a day like today, it’s very difficult to get a read on the fine details.

“But for the most part, very similar.”