VALVOLINE GRM COMBINE RETURNS FOR YOUNG GUNS

The future pathway for Australia’s brightest young talent is in good hands, after GRM (Garry Rogers Motorsport) has announced it will once again team up with Valvoline for another Combine in early 2023.

GRM Competition Director, Marcos Ambrose, will once again be on the frontline of the initiative, that focuses on providing a select few young drivers the opportunity to test out top level machinery.

“The GRM Combine is an experience. It is not a driving school or a talent search,” says Ambrose.

it’s an event where drivers who are on the path to race in the upper levels of Australian motorsport can evaluate their own performance and abilities in a professional environment. It gives the drivers a reference point to see where they are at in their own racing progression and showcase their skills to GRM and other industry leaders.”

Kicking off in January 15-20 of next year, the event will be held at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains and Baskerville circuits, where participants will get the opportunity to test drive GRM’s TCR, Trans Am, and the S5000’s.

“S5000, TCR and Trans Am are very different machines which each require a unique set of skills each to drive,” Ambrose said of the machinery on offer.

Combine participants get to evaluate themselves in different equipment and see what type of machine best suits their skill sets. An added bonus is to compare themselves against our professional factory drivers.”

Making the program a more rounded experience, Valvoline has also come on board in an even bigger capacity this time around, and will provide stellar product support, as well as training for mechanic apprentices to be.

Ambrose, a two-time Supercars champion, will provide his expertise and mentorship, along with noted GRM drivers James Moffat, James Goulding, Dylan O’keeffe and Nathan Heme. Garry and Barry Rogers will also be on deck to oversee the Combine proceedings.

Under the tutelage of this team, the young drivers will experience on-track sessions, detailed guidance with a dedicated driver coach and engineer, and a one weeks work experience package with GRM at its Dandenong facility.

As a credit to the programs success, the last GRM combine saw the fast tracking of rising star Kody Garland, who now races for GRM in the TCR Australia series for Valvoline. 

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