Grove Racing has announced the signing of former Ferrari engineer Riccardo Corte as the new race engineer for rising star Kai Allen, starting in the 2026 season. This strategic move is part of a broader personnel reshuffle at the 2025 Bathurst-winning team, following the departure of team principal David Cauchi at the end of the current season.
Allen’s current race engineer, Alistair McVean, will step into the newly created role of head of performance. This transition comes as Grove Racing aims to build on its recent success and further enhance its competitive edge in the Supercars Championship.
From Formula 1 to Supercars
Riccardo Corte brings a wealth of experience from his time in Formula 1, where he most recently served as Lewis Hamilton’s performance engineer until the British Grand Prix in July. His replacement by Luca Diella marked the end of his tenure in F1, but not his career in motorsport. Corte’s decision to join Grove Racing is seen as a significant boost for the team, leveraging his extensive expertise to elevate their performance.
Before working with Hamilton, Corte was involved with Ferrari as Carlos Sainz’s performance engineer and Charles Leclerc’s driver coach. His role as a race performance simulation engineer at Ferrari involved preparing car set-up options ahead of each grand prix, a skill set that will be invaluable to Grove Racing.
“I’m really proud to be joining Grove Racing at such an exciting time for the team,” Corte said. “The progress they’ve made in recent seasons is impressive, and the Bathurst 1000 win shows what’s possible with the right people and mindset.”
Strategic Moves for Grove Racing
Team owner Stephen Grove highlighted Corte’s induction as a testament to the team’s growing stature within the sport. “Riccardo’s appointment represents another major step forward for Grove Racing,” he noted. “His 11 years of experience at Ferrari F1 and his work as Lewis Hamilton’s performance engineer earlier this year bring incredible depth and understanding to our program.”
CEO Brenton Grove echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the strategic advantage Corte’s engineering background brings. “Riccardo’s background at Ferrari gives him a unique perspective on vehicle dynamics, simulation, and race-weekend execution at the absolute highest level,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Alistair McVean, who will transition to the head of performance, expressed enthusiasm about his new role. “It’s an exciting step to move into this role and continue shaping the engineering direction of Grove Racing,” he said.
Looking Ahead
This announcement follows the news of David Cauchi’s impending departure after four successful years with Grove Racing. Under his leadership, the team has risen to second in the championship standings, trailing only Triple Eight by 883 points.
Cauchi reflected on his time with the team, stating, “The past four years with Grove Racing have been some of the most rewarding of my career. To play a part in the team’s growth and to celebrate a Bathurst win together is something I’ll always be proud of.”
As Grove Racing prepares for the future, both Matt Payne and Kai Allen remain in championship contention, reflecting the team’s strong performance this season. The strategic changes, including Corte’s appointment and McVean’s new role, are designed to ensure the team continues to compete at the highest level in the coming years.
“Al’s technical experience adds an engineering depth that strengthens every part of our program,” CEO Grove said. “Working alongside Jack [Bell, Matt Payne’s engineer], Riccardo, and the wider engineering group, he’ll help ensure our race engineers have the tools, data, and structure needed for consistent excellence.”
With these strategic moves, Grove Racing is poised to build on its recent successes and continue its ascent in the world of Supercars, setting the stage for a competitive 2026 season.
