Penrite Racing announces shock Cauchi departure

David Cauchi will leave his Penrite Racing Team Principal post at the end of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship, the team has announced.

Just weeks after Cauchi led the Ford team to victory in the Repco Bathurst 1000, the Grove-owned squad confirmed Cauchi "will take on a new opportunity" after the current season concludes.

Cauchi has overseen Penrite Racing's rise to championship contenders, having first joined the team in 2022.

The decorated engineer arrived at the Melbourne squad following a successful stint at Triple Eight Race Engineering, where he led Shane van Gisbergen to title victory in 2021 before jumping ship.

Cauchi's first year with the Groves in 2022 delivered multiple podiums for David Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth, before Matt Payne arrived in 2023.

Payne became a rookie Adelaide 500 champion at the end of the season, before emerging as a podium regular in 2024. Come 2025, and the team has reached new heights, Payne and rookie teammate Kai Allen both reaching the Semi Final at Sandown.

Earlier this month, Penrite Racing reached the pinnacle of Supercars with a stunning Bathurst win for Payne/Garth Tander, which was Ford's first in the Great Race since 2019.

In a team statement, Penrite Racing said "Cauchi feels the timing is right to take on a new challenge, with the full support of Grove Racing leadership.

Cauchi will complete the final two rounds with the season as it aims to win the title with Payne and Allen.

The announcement comes just weeks after Cauchi's former boss at Triple Eight, Roland Dane, signed on as PremiAir Racing's new Team Principal for 2026.

"The past four years with Grove Racing have been some of the most rewarding of my career. To play a part in the team’s growth and to celebrate a Bathurst win together is something I’ll always be proud of," Cauchi said.

"After a lot of discussion with Steve and Brenton, I feel the timing is right to take on a new opportunity beyond 2025.

"The team is in a fantastic place and well positioned for the future, and I’m looking forward to finishing the season strongly before starting my next chapter. I’m extremely grateful to the entire Grove family for the trust and support they’ve shown me throughout this journey.”

Cauchi's immediate move to Grove Racing came with a legal threat from Triple Eight on the eve of the 2022 season. The matter was resolved just weeks later.

He quickly became the pivotal figure in the team's surge up the leaderboard, with Penrite Racing now second in the teams' championship behind Triple Eight.

“Cauchi has been a huge part of our journey and someone I have enormous respect for, both personally and professionally. Over the past four years, he’s helped us build a structure and culture that has delivered results - culminating in our Bathurst 1000 win this year," founder and team owner Stephen Grove said.

"We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and fully support him as he steps into his next role. He leaves the team in fantastic shape and with our complete backing."

Team CEO Brenton Grove added: “David has been a huge part of Grove Racing’s growth and evolution. His leadership has helped lay the foundations for the success we’re now building on, and it’s been great to share this journey with him. As he prepares for his next chapter, we’re completely supportive.

"He remains a key part of our plans through 2025, and we’ll work closely to ensure the team finishes this year in a manner consistent with his contribution."