New Zealand’s Madeline Stewart has returned from an intensive Porsche development workshop in North Carolina armed with fresh motivation and new tools to carry into the second half of her Porsche Carrera Cup North America season.
The Kiwi racer was one of a select group of drivers invited to the Porsche EBOOST Junior Program and Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program annual workshop, which this year combined sessions at Porsche Penske Motorsport and PitFit Training.
This comes after Stewart was announced to be part of the Porsche Female Driver Development Programme Scholarship which help drivers like Stewart develop a sustainable and long term career in motorsport and help them climb the ladder into other Porsche Series including WEC or IMSA.
The initiative is designed to give young Porsche drivers more than just seat time. Over two days, participants gained valuable insight into performance, fitness, branding, and the professional skills needed to build sustainable racing careers.
Speaking after the workshop, Stewart said the program gave her perspective beyond just driving fast.
“At the workshop, we got to hear directly from multiple professionals at Team Penske about their jobs and how they play a key role in the team. They spoke to us about the drivers and their mindsets, preparation and work ethic. It was a reminder that success at this level comes from the smallest details, not just driving fast, but how you prepare, recover, and approach every part of the sport,” Stewart told Velocity News.
One of her highlights was taking part in pit stop practice with the Porsche Penske crew.
“It’s always fun to work alongside the crew, but it also gives us a real appreciation for how tough their jobs are. As drivers, we tend to focus on what happens behind the wheel, but exercises like that remind you it’s a full team effort to succeed.”
The Kiwi also pointed to the off-track focus of the program as especially valuable.
“I found the media and branding sessions incredibly valuable. As drivers, we often put all of our energy into being quick on track, but the workshop really emphasised that your professionalism and communication off track are just as important for building a long-term career.”
The first day of the workshop was hosted at Porsche Penske Motorsport’s state-of-the-art facility in Mooresville, North Carolina – home to the Porsche 963 competing in IMSA’s top category.
There, drivers heard from Porsche Cars North America’s James Kim on motorsport history, while Ben Atkins and Chance Stewart shared behind-the-scenes insights into Penske operations.
Other sessions covered nutrition, mental preparation, and media training, led by NBC pit lane reporter Matt Yocum. The day concluded with a team dinner hosted by former Porsche factory star Patrick Long, who offered career advice from his own journey through the Porsche ladder system.
Day two shifted focus to PitFit Training, where drivers underwent rigorous physical and cognitive assessments. Elite athletes use these baseline tests across motorsports to refine mental sharpness and physical conditioning.
For Stewart, the timing of the program was ideal.
“What I really appreciated is that this workshop came right in the middle of the season. It gave me a fresh perspective and that extra push of motivation heading into the second half. I’ve always focused heavily on fitness and sim work, but now I’m being more intentional with recovery, cognitive training, and mental preparation. It reminded me that those smaller, often overlooked areas can make a huge difference when it comes to consistency and performance.”
Stewart believes the broader value of the program lies in preparing drivers for every aspect of a professional career.
“It gives you a toolkit beyond just driving. You learn how to connect with teams, sponsors, and media, and you see firsthand what it takes to be a professional driver long term. That kind of knowledge accelerates your development just as much as seat time does.”
Reflecting on her 2025 campaign in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Stewart is encouraged by the progress so far.
“It’s been a year of growth. We’ve had some highs and some challenges, but I’m proud of the progress we’re making, and I feel like each race weekend we’re getting stronger. This championship is highly competitive, and progress doesn’t always come through in the results immediately, but I know we are heading in the right direction. I’m excited to keep pushing for results in the second half of the season.”
Her advice for younger drivers hoping to follow a similar path is admirable:
“Take every chance you can to learn and don’t be afraid to ask questions. These opportunities come to drivers who work hard on and off track, show professionalism, and stay open-minded. If you treat every experience as a step toward your bigger goals, doors will open.”
Alongside Stewart, other attendees included Carrera Cup racers Zachary Vanier, Sabre Cook, Tyler Maxson, Yves Baltas, and Paul Bocuse, plus Sprint Challenge competitors Cole Kleck, Therese Lahlouh, Loni Unser, Anna Cecchi, and Erika Hoffmann.
For all of them, the workshop represented a rare chance to step away from competition and invest in the building blocks of their future careers.
For Stewart, it was an experience that not only reinforced her commitment but also sharpened her outlook for the challenges ahead. Stewart is back in action next weekend for the round 6 of Porsche Carrera Cup North America at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Header Image: Porsche Motorsport North America
