Grove Racing has stated they intend to sign Matthew Payne as a co-driver for the 2022 Bathurst 1000.
Payne will compete in the Super 2 championship this year after making his debut in the series late in the 2021 season for Kelly Grove Racing.
Payne joined the Super2 field for the rounds at Sydney Motorsport Park and Bathurst. Both rounds saw him show good pace through practise and qualifying, before getting caught in incidents during the races. However, Payne does not currently hold a Superlicence, though he should complete the six Super2 rounds needed to be granted the licence, in time for the Bathurst 1000.
The team also said they would like to have Matt Campbell as co-driver in the team’s other car, though that will depend on Campbell’s schedule which hasn’t yet been finalised. The Australian raced alongside Andre Heimgartner in the most recent Great Race.
Grove Racing boss Stephen Grove recently spoke to Speedcafe about the team’s co-drivers for the upcoming season.
“Matty Payne is locked in as a co-driver and if we can get Matty Campbell’s schedule to work, which it’s a bit early, he’ll be a co-driver as well,” Grove said.
“Matty [Payne] will come off, I don’t know by then, six or seven rounds of Super2, so he’ll be quite comfortable in the car. We’re really looking forward to getting him back in the car.”
Though the team would like to see Payne and Campbell join the team for the endurance season, they are yet to decide which full-time driver each would partner with.
David Reynolds is set to continue with the team, while Lee Holdsworth will rejoin the category as a full-time driver for the 2022 season.
The Supercars season will get underway at Sydney Motorsport Park 4-6 March, the Super2 series will also kick off their championship at the event.
Main image: Bruce Jenkins