Triple Eight launches legal action over David Cauchi’s Supercars move to Grove Racing

The 2022 Supercars championship is beginning amid controversy with Triple Eight Race Engineering launching legal action against former employee David Cauchi.

The decorated engineer quit his role at Red Bull Ampol Racing - Triple Eight’s Supercars team - at the end of the 2021 championship, having helped Shane Van Gisbergan to his second title.

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It ended a 14-year stint with the team which began with Cauchi working as a data engineer before taking over as Jamie Whincup’s race engineer and assisting the seven-time championship winner to the 2014 and 2017 crowns.

He then joined Grove Racing as team principal for the 2022 championship.

Triple Eight say they instructed Cauchi to take six months’ “gardening leave” following his departure.

However, Cauchi made an appearance at last week’s pre-season test at Winton and was present at the season-opening Sydney SuperNight event on Friday at Sydney Motorsport Park.

“Triple Eight Race Engineering is of the view that David Cauchi is in breach of his ongoing contractual obligations to the team,” a statement from the Supercars powerhouse outfit read.

“Triple Eight has instructed its lawyers to take immediate steps to protect the team’s legitimate business interests.”

Whincup, who is now Red Bull team principal following his retirement from full-time driving, said the saga is “a distraction” behind the scenes.

Grove Racing is competing in the Supercars championship with two Penrite-branded Ford Mustangs driven by David Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth.

“It is a private issue between David Cauchi and Triple 8 (sic) and it is a legal matter between the parties,” Grove Racing said in a statement.

“Grove Racing will make no