DAVID Cauchi has opened up on his decision to walk away from Grove Racing just as the Penrite Ford squad started to really hit its straps.
Cauchi has been the Braeside squad’s team principal for all four seasons since it took full ownership of what previously was Kelly Racing at the start of 2022.
There has been a stack of progress through that period, culminating in a series of achievements this year: a Bathurst 1000 victory via Matt Payne and Garth Tander, an Adelaide Grand Final berth for Kai Allen, and second in the teams’ championship.
Their march forward will have to occur without Cauchi from here on, however.
In V8 Sleuth Podcast episode to be released in the new year, Cauchi explained the surprise split.
“Talking very honestly about everything, for me probably the move to Melbourne, living in Melbourne, it hasn’t done it for me,” he said.
“I lived 14 years in Queensland and have a lot of really good friends in Queensland, and the lifestyle there is something I really liked.
“I’ve been in the sport for 18 years now as well, so a long time, and you make a lot of sacrifice: everyone in the sport does.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a team principal, a driver, mechanics, commercial crew, everyone, you make a lot of sacrifice to do this sport and I’ve given my all in the 18 years. I don’t think I have left a lot on the table.
“My personality is sort of all-in and I have definitely taken that approach to motorsport, which has meant that other things in my life have sort of had to take a backseat.
“Now I just probably want to prioritise a few more of those other things in life, and part of it was going back to where I feel more at home, and that is in Queensland…
“That’s the biggest catalyst, is it’s time for something different. I don’t know what that is at the moment, it could eventually end up being back in motorsport in some way, shape or form, or it could be outside of motorsport.”
Cauchi admits it could be viewed as “mad” to leave given Grove Racing’s trajectory and remaining potential for growth, but that it’s the right move for him on a personal level.
“You can chase trophies for a long time but you have to look at yourself and give yourself time for some other things and prioritise some other things,” he said.
“So that’s the decision I made… maybe I’ll regret it, I don’t know yet, we’ll find out. That’s life, right?”
Grove Racing has indicated it intends to operate without a team principal in 2026; it has instead bolstered its brains trust by recruiting Riccardo Corte as Allen’s new race engineer and promoting Alistair McVean to head of performance.