SOME drivers spent their Easter weekend competing in the Bathurst 6 Hour. Others might’ve enjoyed putting their feet up ahead of an intense New Zealand doubleheader.
But Kai Allen? He took it as an opportunity to forge a deeper bond with his new race engineer Riccardo Corte.
Corte joined Grove Racing at the end of last year after a lengthy stint with Ferrari’s Formula 1 program, including being Lewis Hamilton’s performance engineer in the first half of 2025.
There was always going to be a learning curve for the Italian, such is the unique nature of Supercars, but after just 10 races the Allen/Corte combination has struck gold.
Allen qualified fourth for the Friday race in Christchurch. Corte rolled the dice on a slightly early pitstop for only two tyres, which netted the #26 Penrite Mustang track position that Allen would not cede, despite heavy pressure from Brodie Kostecki.
Kai Allen takes the chequered flag. Pic: Supplied/Mark Horsburgh
For all that Allen achieved as a rookie last year, he had yet to taste victory. This was new territory.
“Not getting that first race win last year was a pretty tough pill to swallow with the speed we had and the results we had, and I set out on a bit of a hunt this year trying to get it,” the 20-year-old explained.
“I sort of had a bit of a reality check after Sydney and the Grand Prix and you go ‘just be patient, calm down a bit’… I have just got to keep chipping away and like I said not rush the process.”
As for Corte?
“It has been really cool. Riccardo is a very funny character and he’s definitely adapted to the Australian way very well,” said Allen.
“Obviously coming from Ferrari, it’s quite a different place over there, the way they operate is very different to us and especially Penrite Racing, so he has done really well.
“I think the biggest thing for him and I was to bond with each other and to understand each other, and I think that’s where Al (McVean), my engineer last year, we got towards the end of last year of basically going out there fighting with each other (in a positive sense).
“I think now it’s getting really good where we’re almost becoming really good mates – I actually took him down to Mount Gambier over Easter and sort of showed him where I grew up so that he understands my family, how I operate and where I come from.
“I actually got him in a go-kart and got him driving, it was pretty funny. He is definitely not going to drive my Mustang because oh my god!
“Just that bond is what I’m trying to build with him and I think we’re slowly getting better and better and he’s understanding the car more, the team more… this championship is so tough at the moment, it’s ridiculous how close everyone is.
“You might be good one day and the next day you’re not, so between him, myself and the rest of the Penrite crew we have got to work hard tonight to go even better tomorrow.”
Supercars will have back-to-back qualifying sessions this morning, the first of which starts 8:05am AEST (10:05am local).