Grove Racing locks in Tander
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 18 October 2024
Garth Tander will continue being a big part of Grove Racing for years to come having signed a new “long-term” deal.
Tander will continue being a co-driver with the growing Ford squad having made the big jump from Triple Eight last year.
In addition to co-driving, the five-time Bathurst 1000 winner will perform a “multi-faceted role of Strategic Advisor” working with the young drivers at Grove HQ that will include Matt Payne, Kai Allen and Oscar Targett next year.
Not only does the prospect of chasing more Peter Brock Trophies, but also working with Payne and Allen as they forge a partnership next year, excites Tander with Grove Racing rising rapidly since its maiden win 12 months ago.
“I’m excited to extend my relationship with Grove Racing into the future,” Tander said.
“I said when I initially joined the team that I had belief in where the team was headed, and nothing has changed there, hence it was an easy decision to continue with the team.
“It’s important to me to mentor young drivers in our sport, and obviously in our team. Not only Matt, who will be entering his third full time year in 2025, but also Kai who joins the team in ’25 for his rookie year.
“It’s a tough championship and both Matt and Kai need to walk their own journey in their own careers.
“However, if I can help them try not to make the same mistakes I did when I was at that stage of my career, then I believe that will put them in good stead to achieve the levels of success that we know they are capable of.
“I wasn’t fortunate to have that mentor type when I was at the beginning of my career, and hopefully I can help accelerate some of the learnings required to succeed in Supercars.
“The team is still a young team, there is a long way to go for this team to realise its potential, and I want to be part of that.
“The team has won some races in the last few years, but turning race wins into a championship tilt is the next challenge.
“With such a young driver line up next year, there are solid foundations to build upon. It is an exciting prospect to be part of.”
Grove Racing Team Principal David Cauchi said keeping Tander’s experience of winning 57 races is a boost for everyone at the squad.
“Garth has played a key role in the growth of Grove Racing since joining us in 2023. The value he adds inside the car speaks for itself,” Cauchi said.
“Outside of the car, he has played an important role in supporting Matt through his first two years in the championship and this will be extended to Kai in 2025 and beyond.
“Garth also contributes significantly to the leadership team and is a key asset for our partners.
“I look forward to continuing our relationship with Garth and developing our team into the future.
Since making the big move from Triple Eight, the 2007 champion has a best result of fourth achieved with Payne at the Sandown 500 this year.
Tander will not appear in the #19 next weekend at the Gold Coast with endurances ending.
Image: Mark Horsburgh
READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE
Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
Recent Stories
array (
0 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 11,
'name' => 'Latest News',
'slug' => 'latest-news',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 16499,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 11,
'category_count' => 16499,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
1 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 38,
'name' => 'Supercars',
'slug' => 'supercars',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 38,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 5519,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 38,
'category_count' => 5519,
'category_description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'cat_name' => 'Supercars',
'category_nicename' => 'supercars',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
2 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2029,
'name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'slug' => 'email',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2029,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 2031,
'count' => 7057,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2029,
'category_count' => 7057,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'category_nicename' => 'email',
'category_parent' => 2031,
)),
3 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2031,
'name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'slug' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2031,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 6412,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2031,
'category_count' => 6412,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'category_nicename' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
)
