Long-time Triple Eight Race Engineering championship-winning engineer David Cauchi will move to Kelly Grove Racing next season it has been confirmed.
In the role of Team Principal, Cauchi will replace Todd Kelly as the squad enters a new era of ownership through Stephen and Brenton Grove next year.
Currently race engineering Repco Supercars Championship leader Shane van Gisbergen, Cauchi previously led Jamie Whincup’s efforts from 2014 until last year.
A shake up of the Triple Eight’s engineering structure sparked by Grant McPherson’s departure to Walkinshaw Andretti United at the end of last season, placed Cauchi with van Gisbergen and experienced recruit Wes McDougall partnered Whincup.
McDougall has also confirmed he will leave the team at the end of this season due to health reasons.
Cauchi started with Triple Eight as a Data Engineer in 2007, before teaming with Whincup in 2014 with immediate championship success, which was repeated three years later in dramatic circumstances.
“I’m very excited and grateful to Brenton and Stephen for the opportunity to join Grove Racing in 2022,” Cauchi said.
“It’s a new role and a thrilling opportunity in a team with a deep and long history in the sport.
“I am looking forward to being a part of this new chapter in their story.”
Team co-owner Stephen Grove revealed Cauchi was the perfect fit for the team as it enters a new era.
“Once we went through the ownership changes, it was essential that we found the best possible person we could to help take on some of Todd’s critical roles, and we believe we have found that person in Cauchi,” Grove explained.
“He has vast experience and know that he will fit well into the family culture of the team.”
This continues a significant amount of change at Triple Eight for 2022 as Broc Feeney replaces the retiring Whincup at the end of this season.
Whincup in turn will assume the Managing Director and Team Principal roles of the team from Roland Dane.