![\"Grove](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-Gold-Coast-500-Z99_3356.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrove Racing Supercars driver Kai Allen.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGrove Racing Supercars driver Kai Allen.<\/p>\n
Allen, the 2023 Super2 Series winner, was snapped up by the Penrite-backed squad for 2025 having been passed up by Dick Johnson Racing.<\/p>\n
The now 20-year-old made the most of it with five podiums en route to fourth in the championship, helping the Ford squad to second in the teams\u2019 standings.<\/p>\n
Grove has moved to extend its deal with Allen amid suggestions of an impending deal between Matt Payne and GM\/Team 18.<\/p>\n
As previously reported, Grove Racing is adamant Payne is contracted for 2027<\/a> amid suggestions the driver is being shopped around by his management.<\/p>\n Securing Allen therefore takes on extra importance for the Grove squad, which has risen to become a Supercars powerhouse in the Gen3 era.<\/p>\n Speedcafe understands Allen joined Grove on a multi-year deal, which has now been extended through to 2030.<\/p>\n \u201cKai is a generational talent and delivered everything that we could have asked for and more in 2025,\u201d said team owner Stephen Grove.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has approached his first Supercars season with humility, determination and a serious hunger to improve every time he gets in the car.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team have loved working with Kai and are excited by the possibilities ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cHis performances in 2025, have laid a strong foundation for what we believe will be a long and successful career at this level of the sport and we are thrilled by his loyalty and commitment to Grove Racing.\u201d<\/p>\n Grove puts clamps on Matt Payne amid GM pursuit<\/a><\/p>\n Allen, who hails from the South Australian city of Mount Gambier but is now based in Melbourne, expressed his excitement over his future with Grove.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first season in Supercars was a dream and I am thrilled to be extending my partnership with Grove Racing until 2030,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t thank Stephen and Brenton enough for the opportunity and trust that they have instilled in me over the past year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe future at Grove Racing is incredibly exciting.\u00a0The belief, the people and the direction that we are headed in gives me a lot of confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like we are building something really special and I can\u2019t wait to keep growing together and see where this journey takes us.\u201d<\/p>\n Allen will next season have ex-Ferrari F1 engineer Riccardo Corte in his corner<\/a>, with Alistair McVean promoted to a new head of performance role.<\/p>\n Other changes at Grove Racing for 2026 include the departure of team principal David Cauchi, who will not be directly replaced.<\/a><\/p>\n Departing Grove boss David Cauchi breaks silence on future<\/a><\/p>\n