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Payne to race familiar number in rookie year

By Thomas Miles

Rookie Matthew Payne will be racing with a new number alongside David Reynolds in the 2023 Supercars Championship season.

Payne will bring back #19 to the category in his Penrite Racing Gen3 Ford Mustang next year.

The number replaces #10 which Lee Holdsworth has campaigned this year in his final season of full-time racing.

David Reynolds will continue driving car #26 the number he has carried since joining Grove Racing in 2021.

Payne brings back #19 which was last used by Fabian Coulthard for Team Sydney in 2021.

The number has been a fixture of recent years being used by Tenko Autosports and driven to Bathurst 1000 glory by Will Davison and Jonathon Webb in 2016.

The reason behind the number change is to pay homage to the year of Penrith’s establishment in 1926 by Les Mecoles.

Grove Racing team owner Stephen Grove said the change not only celebrates its major sponsor, but also marks a new chapter for the team.

“With our 2023 driver line-up, the change to #19 and #26 signifies a new era for both us and Penrite, welcoming Matt Payne alongside long-time Penrite ambassador, David Reynolds,” he said.

“It’s great that we’ve had the opportunity to run numbers that mean so much to Penrite and showcase such a long and established business.

“Partners like Penrite, an Australian, family-owned brand showcase the true Australian spirit of business and we’re excited to promote their product.”

The two current Penrite Racing cars will return to the track today for Practice and Qualifying in the VALO Adelaide 500.

2022 VALO Adelaide 500 schedule

Friday, December 2

13.15-13.45 Supercars Practice 2

17.35-17.50 Supercars Qualifying

Saturday, December 3

11.00-11.30 Supercars Practice 3

12.35-13.05 Supercars Top 10 Shootout

14.45-17.15 Supercars Race 33 (78 laps)

Sunday, December 4

11.00-11.15 Supercars Qualifying

12.05-12.35 Supercars Top 10 Shootout

14.15-16.45 Supercars Race 34 (78 laps)

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

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