Penrite Racing makes key technical signing

Penrite Racing has bolstered its engineering department with the appointment of Alexander Lieschke to a new role.

Lieschke, who joins with more than 13 years of experience with Porsche in Germany, takes the newly created role of Head of Simulation & Performance Engineering.

He has experience in Porsche’s Formula E program, Porsche’s successful LMP1 program, and recently supported Porsche customer team Andretti Formula E.

Lieschke oversaw Porsche’s Season 10 Formula E Drivers’ Championship success, followed by the Season 11 Teams’ and Manufacturers’ Championships.

He’s the latest international talent signed onto the team, after Riccardo Corte signed as Race Engineer for Kai Allen. Lieschke will begin his role with Grove Racing in October and report to the team’s Head of Race Engineering, Jack Bell.

It's another sign of the Ford team continuing to thrive amid significant change, with David Cauchi and Grant McPherson both departing in recent months.

“To be joining the Groves and the entire team at Penrite Racing is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Lieschke said.

“The Supercars Championship is known throughout the motorsport world as one of the most competitive racing categories anywhere, so every bit of performance is crucial to ultimate success.

“I've followed Supercars from afar for many years and I cannot wait to get to Australia, become part of Penrite Racing and work with what is clearly a very talented and knowledgeable team of people.”

“Stephen and Brenton have laid out a strong vision for what they want to achieve, and their goals align with my ambitions to deliver innovation and improvement across the team’s engineering development, both now and into the future.”

CEO Brenton Grove said: “Alexander is the latest in a series of recruits to the team who will allow us to continue pushing ourselves and deliver genuine gains in every aspect of what we do.

“We’ve been very clear that we will search globally to find the best people to join our program, and this is another step in that direction.

“To have someone of Alex’s global motorsport experience and success join our existing highly talented engineering group is a testament to the level we are working towards.

“The experience and expertise Alexander brings to Penrite Racing is an exciting prospect for the whole team as we continue to chase championships and further race wins.”

Executive Chairman Stephen Grove added: “We know how competitive Supercars is as a world-leading series, so it is imperative that we continue to invest in the people and processes that can take us to another level,” Stephen Grove said.

“Alexander will add further capability to what is already a very talented engineering department at Penrite Racing, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact he can have across the program.”