Madeline Stewart to make Carrera Cup Australia debut in Bathurst
Madeline Stewart will be stepping up to make her Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia debut at this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000. The New Zealander will also contend both final rounds of Carrera Cup Australia and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia in a double header Motorsport Australia event at The Bend Motorsport Park with the Porsche Team New Zealand team.
Bathurst will also mark the Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) driver’s second visit to Mount Panorama circuit this year. After beginning the year in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge, Stewart is making the step-up to get some racing miles under her belt after heavily impacted 2021 season due to the travel restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s been a tough year as we haven’t raced since Sydney Motorsport Park in May. We have done a few test days and have made a lot of progress, so I am very excited to take this opportunity on the mountain,” said Madeline.
“The most laps I’ve done around Bathurst was earlier on in the year at the 6 hour, but Bathurst in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car will be a really cool combo and I cannot wait to drive it.”
Madeline’s no stranger to being thrown in the deep end with her racing career as the 21-year-old had her first season racing cars in the Super 3 category.
“This weekend is all about learning, the calibre of drivers is in Carrera Cup Australia is extremely high, so I am looking forward to getting the experience racing against them in such a competitive field. It’s always good to get some laps around Bathurst and that’s what I am after. My goal is to bring the experience and knowledge of the car through to next year’s racing season.”
Making the step-up to the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia wouldn’t have been possible without the support she gets from Earl Bamber himself and the team he has formed in Australia.
“While Earl, is currently on the other side of the world, he continues to guide and mentor me. He always points me in the right direction and I feel incredibly lucky to be working with him and such a great team.”
Madeline’s first session at the mountain will be practice 1 on Wednesday the 1st of December.