Grove Launches Bid for Outright Bathurst 12H Honors

Grove Racing has confirmed its return to the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, launching a full-scale campaign aimed at outright victory.

Fresh off its Bathurst 1000 triumph last month with Matt Payne and Garth Tander, the team will field a Pro class Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo in the Intercontinental GT Challenge season opener on Feb. 13-15 as it eyes a chance of an historic Bathurst double.

The 2026 entry marks a reunion, with Will Davison and Kai Allen set to share the cockpit together at Bathurst once again having been co-drivers in the Bathurst 1000 in 2024, joined by CEO Brenton Grove.

For Davison, the event will also represent his first start for Grove Racing, the team he will drive for in the Supercars enduros next year, as he begins embedding into the team’s engineering processes, operational systems and performance culture.

Long-term partner Penrite will be the naming rights sponsor of the entry, celebrating the commencement of its 100-year anniversary in 2026.

In recognition of the milestone, the Grove Racing entry will proudly carry car number 100, the same number that delivered the team’s historic Bathurst 1000 victory.

Jack Bell, Grant McPherson and Alistair McVean, senior leaders in Grove Racing’s engineering team, will form a critical part of the team’s program at Bathurst.

“Returning to the Bathurst 12 Hour, this time in the Pro Class is a statement of intent for our team,” said Stephen Grove. “We’ve proven we can win at Bathurst, and now we’re taking the next step by targeting an outright result on the world stage.

“Reuniting Will and Kai at Mount Panorama is incredibly exciting and to do it with Penrite as our naming partner in their centenary year, in car number 100, makes this program incredibly special.”

Davison added: “It’s fantastic to be joining Grove Racing at the Bathurst 12 Hour for my first race with the team. The engineering depth and ambition they’ve have is seriously impressive, and I can’t wait to hop into the Penrite Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

“To be part of their push for an outright Pro Class victory at Bathurst is something I’m genuinely excited about.”