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Garry Rogers Motorsport intends to remain on the Supercars grid next year despite its recent expansion into TCR Australia and S5000.
The popular Melbourne squad has endured a tough season to date with Townsville offering up its first top 10 finishes of the campaign as the squad benefitted from unpredictable wet conditions in Race 18.
Its Boost Mobile backed ZB Commodores for James Golding and Richie Stanaway, who has missed the last two rounds through injury, have struggled for outright pace and consistency, which sees the team sitting ninth in the standings.
The run has also come at time where the team has expanded by purchasing four cars for the new TCR Australia Series, with a further three Alfa Romeos ordered.
In addition to its TCR commitments the operation has become the technical partner for S5000, which sees the squad charged with the development and build of the 14 cars.
GRM is yet to confirm plans for 2020 although in January it had confirmed a multi-year deal with new backer Boost Mobile and Stanaway although it appears the pair’s futures at the team could be at risk.
While it intends to be on the grid next year team director Barry Rogers says the squad will have to ‘get its ducks in a row’ before making a decision.
“Garry’s been on the grid since 1996, and our business is around being in Supercars,” Rogers told Speedcafe.com.
“Certainly, our intention is to be on the grid. And like every other year, you’ve got to get your ducks in a row and try to get the income to get close to meeting an outcome.
“From there, you make your decisions. But certainly, is it our intention to be on the grid next year? It is yeah.”
After a difficult Supercars campaign to date, the squad is hoping to build on a breakthrough in Townsville when the series heads to Queensland Raceway next week.
Former Supercars full-timer and GRM driver Michael Caruso filled in for the Kiwi in Townsville scoring a ninth, the car’s best result of the season.
His experience proved beneficial for the team in understanding the current deficiencies with the car.
Caruso’s appearance in Townsville was initially listed as a one-off although the team would like to see him return if he is available and permitted to do so by Pirtek Enduro Cup suitors Tickford Racing.
“What I really noticed about Michael was his leadership, he put the bit between his teeth. His feedback and his input; he was a real professional,” Rogers added.
“You know we’re all professionals in this sport but he just, to me, was just determined to come to the team and have an impact, and he did have an impact.
“I would have said, it was a real positive experience from our team’s perspective.
“And let’s hope that the information that we got, we can move along with and just continue to chip away at it.
“There is no easy answer (to improving the cars). I wish you could just go down and buy XYZ and bolt that in the car and you go quick.”
