Grove Motorsport will start the 2019 season off with a bang as the team returns to the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour featuring a driving line-up of previous winners.
Hoping to defend the success of last year and add to their tally of three wins in Class B, the accomplished Melbourne-based team will once again field a single car entry in the all-Porsche Cup car division.
Akin to last year’s livery, the #4 car will run a vibrant colour scheme, predominantly red with a Grove flair, featuring a boxing kangaroo on the sides, an Australian flag on the bonnet and other iconic Australian symbols spread around the car.
It will also mark the first occasion that the team has tackled the 12 Hour endurance classic with the second-generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racecar.
Reuniting after last year’s outstanding victory, Stephen Grove will share the driving duties with son Brenton Grove, while Porsche superstar Ben Barker will once again bring a wealth of experience to the outfit.
Barker is an FIA World Endurance Championship regular and has three Bathurst 12 Hour starts to his name, all of which have been for Grove Motorsport.
Stephen Grove wrapped up his 2018 season in momentous circumstances following an unprecedented year which saw him compete selected rounds of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup series.
Ending things off in style, Stephen clinched his third Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Pro-Am title as well as his maiden Endurance Cup championship.
Meanwhile, Brenton Grove made waves in 2018, debuting in the Dunlop Super2 Series before the announcement late last year he would return to Supercars’ second tier with powerhouse squad Triple Eight Race Engineering.
All three drivers are eager to hit the track in less than three weeks time.
Stephen Grove: “Having the same driver line-up heading into this year’s event was something really important for our preparations. We tried to keep some normality year on year and having the same three drivers really helps that process. It will be great to have Ben back again, so we are really excited to head to the Mountain in the new Porsche Cup car to see how we go.”
Brenton Grove: “I’m really excited to link up with Ben and my father again. Having continuity and familiarity within a driving line-up for long distance races is quite important so to go back again with the same line-up is something that should help our preparations.”
Ben Barker: “I am really looking forward to joining my friends at Grove Racing Down Under again; we’ve had some great success over the years and will be gunning to continue that this year at the Bathurst 12 Hour. Mount Panorama is one of the most challenging and unforgiving tracks in the world that therefore makes it all the more rewarding when completed. Last year’s win was awesome and it’s cool that we’re getting the band back together again with Stephen, Brenton and myself sharing the car. For sure, I am super excited to hit the Mountain in a few weeks time.”
The 2019 Bathurst 12 Hour will mark Grove Motorsport’s seventh assault on the Mountain; boasting an enviable record at the 6.2km circuit since their debut in 2013.
This year’s edition of the event will take place from January 31 – February 3.
