Mount Gambier racer Jobe Stewart will make his debut in the main game this weekend at the iconic Bathurst 1000. At just 21 years old, Stewart is set to co-drive for Erebus Motorsport alongside Cooper Murray during the second round of the Repco Supercars 2025 Enduro Cup Season at Mount Panorama.
Stewart expressed increased confidence following his performance at the recent AirTouch 500, where he and Murray secured a seventh-place finish. “My goal is still to get into the main game next year, and all eyes will be on the co-drivers,” he said. “I was pretty happy with the pace I showed.”
The young driver noted that he and Murray had developed a solid working relationship during their time at The Bend. “Bathurst is its own beast, but we have six practice sessions, so there is plenty of time to get up to speed,” he added. Despite the challenges of the longer race, Stewart feels prepared and eager to perform well.
Stewart will focus on refining the race car during practice sessions, especially as Murray will take the wheel for qualifying. “We are going to be in a quick car; the one we will be in is the one that won last year, so there is no reason why we can’t have a good result,” he said. He emphasized the importance of minimizing mistakes during practice to enhance their confidence heading into the race.
Erebus Motorsport’s chief executive, Barry Ryan, praised Stewart’s debut performance. “He did an amazing job. He passed a couple of main game drivers and drove away. It was massively impressive,” Ryan told Speedcafe. A decision regarding Stewart’s potential seat for the 2026 Supercars season will be made after Bathurst, with many sources identifying him as the leading candidate to replace Jack Le Brocq.
Stewart has been affiliated with Erebus since he was 12 years old through the Image Academy. “It would be good to continue the partnership with Erebus. Any opportunity would be awesome, but I would prefer to stay with them,” he stated. He expressed a sense of fulfillment as he prepares to participate in the legendary race, with his father, Marcus Stewart, among his biggest supporters.
“It is going to be pretty cool. Dad was always into it, so I always watched it growing up,” he said. “It will be good to finally jump in and not watch from the sidelines, to actually be involved in the race.” Stewart’s parents have attended all his races this year, and he acknowledges the emotional investment they have made in his career.
In addition to his duties at Bathurst, Stewart is also competing in round five of the Super2 Series, where he is currently positioned 11th. “It will be tough, obviously I have never done anything like that before, but I will just take every day as it comes,” he explained. The different characteristics of the cars will require some adjustment, but he believes that the additional track time will benefit his performance.
“Bathurst is one of those tracks where you have to build up to it a bit,” Stewart said. “The more laps I can do over the weekend, the better.” By the end of the weekend, he anticipates feeling confident as he embarks on this significant step in his racing career.
As the Bathurst 1000 approaches, the excitement surrounding Jobe Stewart and Erebus Motorsport continues to build. With a promising start to his career and a strong support system, Stewart aims to make a lasting impression on the Supercars stage.
