David Reynolds to leave Penrite Racing

David Reynolds, one of the most popular personalities in the Repco Supercars Championship, will part ways with Penrite Racing (Grove Racing) at the end of the 2023 season, after the Victorian-based squad announced he would not be remaining with the team beyond this year.

A statement issued by the team on 21 August read: "Penrite Racing will not be renewing David Reynolds' contract for 2024. We wish Dave the best in his future endeavours.”

The impending departure ends a three-year partnership between Reynolds and Penrite Racing that started with high expectations, but has delivered no race wins and only a handful of podiums at time of writing.

Reynolds started the 2023 season with a pole and podium on the Newcastle street circuit, but has visited the podium only one other time since - at Barbagallo - with poor results at the Tasmania, Darwin, Townsville and Sydney rounds. A fourth place in Race 21 at the OTR SuperSprint (The Bend) was a bright spot, but Reynolds finished that round’s other two races in 13th and 20th.

On the same day that they announced Reynolds’s departure, Penrite Racing confirmed Richie Stanaway as his replacement, joining incumbent driver Matt Payne. This means the team will have an all-Kiwi driver lineup next year.

Before he suits up for Penrite Racing, Stanaway will co-drive with Red Bull Ampol Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen at the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000, while Reynolds will be partnered by the vastly experienced Garth Tander for the enduros. Both are Bathurst winners; Tander as recently as last year, while Reynolds won the Great Race in 2017 with Erebus Motorsport.

At time of writing, Reynolds had made no comment on his impending departure from Penrite Racing, but was enthusiastic about having Tander join him for the enduros.

“I am thrilled to drive with Garth this year. We have known each other for a long time and he’s as good as they come,” Reynolds said.

“He is really respected, his knowledge of the sport and his craft is fantastic, and if there is one person you want to be paired with for enduros, it’s him.”

This year's Sandown 500 will take place on 15-17 September, with the Bathurst 1000 scheduled for 5-8 October.

Photos: Russell Colvin