Grove Racing are excited to confirm that Garth Tander, will participate in Round 4 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship at Tailem Bend.

Proudly backed by SP Tools, Tander will sport the number 87, also run by his son Sebastian who currently competes in the SP Tools Australian Karting Championship with the Grove Junior Team and TanderSport. 

The highly experienced and respected Supercars Champion has five Bathurst 1000 wins to his name, he will race in the Carrera Cup series for a one-off round in an Earl Bamber Motorsport prepared Grove Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car.

Tander is no stranger to the Tailem Bend circuit having last year scored a P4 finish in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia. In addition to his impressive racing resume, Tander is an expert analyst as part of the broadcast team for Supercars Media. 

The opportunity to race in the ultra-competitive Carrera Cup Championship is valuable for Tander as he steps up his preparation for his co-driving duties in the endurance rounds at Sandown and Bathurst with Grove Racing.

Grove Racing have had a long association with Porsche Racing currently competing in the Porsche GT3 challenge with Oscar Targett, Intercontinental GT3 challenge in a Porsche GT3R992, and over 10 years of Carrera Cup Australia competition.

QUOTES:

Stephen Grove said:

“It’s important for Garth to have the opportunity to get some miles prior to the enduro rounds and Carrera Cup is the perfect platform. To have a driver of Garth Tander’s experience pilot a Grove Racing 992 Porsche Cup car at Talem Bend is exciting for the whole team”.

Garth Tander said:

“I’m really excited to do a sprint round of Carrera Cup at Tailem Bend. I have raced Carrera Cup in the Pro-Am event that they used to run back in 2016. Obviously doing a championship sprint round is a whole other deal, and I am under no illusion that its going to be incredibly tough. I know how tough the championship is and how strong the drivers are within the championship, so I know it’s going to be a steep learning curve, but I am really excited about that opportunity. 

Having SP Tools on the car is a great honor; I have a long-standing relationship with SP Tools and it is great to have them on the Porsche. They are great supporters of motorsport and I certainly hope to do them proud.”

Many thanks also to Stephen and Brenton Grove. Getting racing miles prior to Sandown and Bathurst is important and I can’t think of anything better to prepare me for those two Supercar endurance racing events than to jump into the middle of a very tough Carrera Cup championship right in the deep end and having a go, so thanks very much to them for giving me this chance.”

Tom Tucker, CEO Austech Industries said: 

“SP Tools and Garth have a long racing history with many podiums as a result. When the opportunity arose to partner up again, we were more than happy to oblige. 

“It will be great to see Garth show his skills in the new 992 GT3 Porsche. Let’s hope our partnership sees Garth back on the podium where he belongs.”

Garth will hit the track in his SP Tools Porsche for the fourth round of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Championship from August 18 to 20 forming part of the OTR SuperSprint which will also host the 9th Round of the Repco Supercars Championship.