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.
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."
Grove racing, competing in the Supercars championship with two Penrite-branded Ford Mustangs driven by David Reynolds and Lee Holdsworth, released a statement after Friday's practice sessions supporting Cauci.
It's understood the heart of the matter is when Cauci's notice period expired, given he provided notice to Triple Eight of his intention to depart in August but remained with the team until the completion of the 2021 championship in December.
Grove Racing say they believe Cauci's full notice period ended on January 6 and they would "provide any support required" to him in the matter.
""For a team that's enjoyed so much success for so long it's rather interesting timing to be focusing on taking this action on the first day of the season," Grove Racing owner Stephen Grove said.
"We've done everything above board in acquiring David.
"We're focused on continuing to build our team and doing our fighting on the track, with David as a valued member of our squad.
"There's bigger issues for people to worry about in the world right now, than an attempt by Triple Eight to try to stop a man from earning an income for him and his family for six months."
