Former Supercars driver Renee Gracie has confirmed she will return to competitive circuit racing in the GT World Challenge Australia, marking her first professional race programme since stepping away from motorsport in 2017.
Gracie is set to join the championship from the second round of the season in Perth, scheduled for later this month. At this stage, the full details of her programme, including team, car and commercial partners, have not yet been confirmed.
The announcement follows confirmation earlier in the year that Australian streaming platform Stan has commissioned a documentary examining Gracie’s motorsport career and her pathway back into racing. Stan is also a broadcast partner of GT World Challenge Australia.
Gracie has stated that discussions around a return to racing began in 2021, with a deliberate and strategic approach taken before committing to a programme. She has explained that early conversations highlighted challenges in securing the right support within the industry, prompting a longer planning phase rather than a rushed comeback.
According to Gracie, several potential opportunities were assessed before the current GT programme was finalised. She has described the return as the result of aligning with the right people and structure, rather than simply finding a seat.
Gracie is best known for her two starts in the Bathurst 1000, where she competed alongside Simona de Silvestro as part of the Harvey Norman Supergirls entry in 2015 and 2016. Her earlier career also included campaigns in Australian Carrera Cup and the Supercars Super2 Series.
She stepped away from professional racing at the end of the 2017 season and subsequently built a high-profile career outside motorsport, which has continued to place attention on any potential return to competition.
Gracie has emphasised that this latest programme is focused on rediscovering enjoyment and passion for racing. She has said that during her final years in Supercars, the driving itself made up only a small portion of the overall experience, with off-track pressures dominating her time in the sport.
Her stated objective is to rebuild race sharpness and competitiveness over time, with the longer-term possibility of international GT opportunities if the programme develops positively. Gracie has also confirmed she has remained active through karting and recent driving outings, and feels confident that core driving instincts return quickly despite the time away.
From a Racing-X perspective, Gracie’s entry into GT World Challenge Australia adds another layer of interest to the category as it continues to expand. While expectations around competitiveness will only become clear once her car and team are announced, the return represents a significant moment in her motorsport narrative.
Further details regarding Gracie’s GT World Challenge Australia programme are expected to be confirmed closer to the Perth event.
