TWO Champion drivers will make a welcome return to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship at Sydney Motorsport Park next week.

Three-time SP Tools Pro-Am Champion Stephen Grove will make his first Carrera Cup race start since 2022 at the Sydney event, while Garth Tander will return for a second solo-driver cameo aboard a sister Grove Racing-entered 992 GT3 Cup Car in the Equity-One Professional class.

Both cars will run under the Grove Racing banner and be prepared by Earl Bamber Motorsport, in what will be Carrera Cup’s first round to feature night racing in two decades.

The pair add further competitive depth to an already racy field as the championship charges towards its 2024 half-way point at the Western Sydney venue – the first time Carrera Cup has competed there since 2018.

Grove is the most successful Pro-Am driver in series history, winning the 2014, ‘17 and ‘18 championships and has 36 Carrera Cup race wins to his credit.

Along with focusing on the continued rise of Penrite Racing in the Repco Supercars Championship, Grove has also been racing extensively in both domestic and international GT3 competitions of late.

Grove will race a brand-new Type 992 GT3 Cup Car for the first time and tested at Sydney Motorsport Park this week.

Tander cameoed at The Bend last year, qualifying 10^th in the Equity-One Professional class before finishing 10^th, 9^th and 4^th in the three races respectively.

The five-time Bathurst winner will drive the same chassis that won the championship in the hands of New Zealander Callum Hedge last season and, like Grove, he also tested at the Sydney circuit this week.

Round 4 of the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship commences on Friday, July 19 with a pair of practice sessions, prior to qualifying Saturday afternoon and Race 1 under lights on Saturday evening.

Two further races conclude the round on Sunday, with full coverage across the weekend aired on Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports and Sky Sport New Zealand.

Stephen Grove – #4 Grove Racing Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car

“It’s been a long while since I’ve raced Carrera Cup but we took the car out and did a test at Sandown a couple of weeks ago and it just felt like home, it felt grouse, so I felt like I had to come back

“For me it’s about enjoyment this year. I’m certainly outside of the championship probability by about three rounds, but just to come back again, learn the tracks again and then we’ll see next year and have a really bit tilt at it

“But more than anything else what is really, really important to me is to have some fun. We’re heavily involved in motorsport in our program overseas with GT3, we have the Supercar team and we have this whole avenue of motorsport – I just want to have some fun which is the number one trick for me.”

Garth Tander – #87 Grove Racing Porsche 992 GT3 Cup Car

“It’s great to be back in Carrera Cup. I had a great run last year at Tailem Bend and the preparations for me I found last years races were really beneficial, this time at Sydney motorsport Park. Different track but one I’ve done plenty of miles at.

“I’ve got no real expectations of where I’ll end up on the grid or where I’ll end up racing wise. I know Carrera Cup is incredibly competitive and it’s incredibly tight. I’ve got Dale Wood as my teammate at EBM so all I’m interested in is trying to beat him!

“I didn’t know the 992 hadn’t run at Sydney Motorsport Park prior to turning up for a test day so it probably does help a little bit – but given all the championship drivers have been in the car all year and I’m stepping in for one, I’m not sure it’s a completely level playing field, but it probably helps me just slightly.”