Grove Racing heading to the Gulf and going for glory

Grove Racing will carry on GT racing into December as it will take on the Gulf 12 Hours in conjunction with 2 Seas Motorsport.

The combined entry will see the father-son combination of Stephen and Brenton Grove team up with Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Jules Gounon in the Pro Am category at Yas Marina Circuit.

The Grove Racing team has joined the grids of some of the biggest GT3 races around the world including the 24 Hours of Spa, Dubai 24 Hours and 24 Hours of Portimão.

The Grove Mercedes has also been a regular in GT World Challenge Australia, securing a podium finish at Phillip Island.

The Grove Racing Mercedes at Phillip Island. Image: RACE PROJECT

It will complete a big year for the team having made the move from Porsche to Mercedes having raced the former a number of years.

They will be boosted by the union with 2 Seas Motorsport, which brings the world-renowned Gounon.

The 29-year-old is a three time Bathurst 12 Hour winner, with the latest Mount Panorama just part of a special 2023 that also contained IMSA and GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup titles.

Brenton Grove revealed Grove Racing and Gounon have been hoping to race together for some time and made their overall ambition clear.

“Finishing our racing season in the Gulf 12 Hours is incredibly exciting. This will be our third time competing, but our first attempt at the overall win,” he said.

Brenton Grove. Image: Supplied

“With a full season in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 under our belt, we’re confident in achieving a strong result. 2 Seas Motorsport has an impressive track record at this event, having won twice before.

“Jules has been a friend for a while, and we’ve wanted to team up with him since switching to Mercedes-AMG. 

“Having him with us for the weekend will be invaluable to learning even more about the Mercedes-AMG package, and we know that he will be a great driver to work with.”

Gounon reiterated the long standing partnership.

“I am very happy to be back with the guys at 2 Seas Motorsport,” he said. 

“We came together and did a great job last year in Abu Dhabi, securing the Intercontinental GT Challenge title, so it’s a pleasure to be back. 

Jules Gounon. Image: Supplied

“I’m also really pleased to join the Grove family for this event – we have been working hard for some time make it possible to race together, so I am delighted that we have been able to make this all come together for the Gulf 12 Hours. 

“Really looking forward to a fun weekend with everyone and hoping we can bring some silverware home to sign off the year.”

The 12th running of the Gulf 12 Hours will take place on December 15 where the return of a split-race format will feature.

Things will kick off with an initial eight-hour race of survival before a four-hour sprint to the finish.

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