Richie Stanaway's potential return to the Supercars scene has gained momentum, as rumors swirl about his potential involvement with Grove Racing in the upcoming 2024 season. The anticipation is building that Stanaway, hailing from New Zealand, will make his triumphant comeback to the Supercars series, joining forces with fellow Kiwi racer Matt Payne under the Grove Racing banner.
The spotlight on Stanaway's possible seat connection has intensified, particularly in the wake of being passed over for a full-time slot with Triple Eight for the upcoming 2024 season. Initially considered a contender for the position alongside Shane van Gisbergen for the enduros, Stanaway's aspirations were redirected due to the decision to appoint Will Brown as the successor to the NASCAR-bound SVG.
This domino effect, in turn, led to Jack Le Brocq filling Brown's spot at Erebus.
Stanaway's Renewed Prospects at Grove
Stanaway's fortune, however, appears to be on an upswing during this bustling "silly season." The opportunity to secure a seat at Grove Racing promises a fresh chapter in his tumultuous Supercars journey.
Notably, Stanaway's earlier stint as a full-time Supercars driver in 2018 and 2019 had been a rollercoaster ride, marked by highs and lows. His debut in the Supercars realm was accompanied by high expectations, having clinched victory in the 2017 Sandown 500 as co-driver with Cam Waters.
This triumph propelled him to a full-time role with Tickford Racing the subsequent year, but the partnership soured, prompting Stanaway's departure after a solitary season. A lifeline emerged in the form of an opportunity with Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2019, yet another challenging campaign led him to exit the sport altogether by the end of that year.
Stanaway's racing hiatus persisted until 2021, when a wildcard appearance at Bathurst, backed by Peter Adderton, lured him back to the track. The global pandemic deferred his comeback until 2022, but once he reclaimed his position, Stanaway demonstrated remarkable prowess by securing a fourth-place qualification on the grid in an Erebus Holden.
At that juncture, Stanaway expressed his willingness to embrace a full-time resurgence. Now, as the landscape of the Supercars series experiences shifts, Stanaway's name is back in the spotlight, with a potential collaboration with Grove Racing on the horizon.
As the pieces of the puzzle continue to fall into place, all eyes remain on the unfolding narrative of Richie Stanaway's remarkable journey back to the Supercars grid.