Rising New Zealand racer Ben Stewart is gearing up for one of the most iconic weekends on the motorsport calendar, as he prepares to take on Mount Panorama for Round 3 of the Toyota GR Cup Australia, held in support of the Bathurst 1000.
The 20-year-old Wellington local returns to the legendary circuit for the first time since 2023, when he made his Bathurst debut.
That weekend saw Stewart gain invaluable experience around the 6.2km mountain track, recording finishes of 14th, 13th, and 18th across the three races. A solid debut performance on one of the most challenging tracks in the world.
Now, with plenty of growth and experience under his belt, Stewart returns to Bathurst with clear intent. Sitting inside the top 10 in the overall GR Cup championship standings, he’s looking to build on that momentum and continue his upward climb in the points.
“Bathurst is a track every driver looks forward to,” said Stewart.
“I learned a lot here in 2023, and I’m really excited to come back with greater experience and more confidence. The goal is to keep moving forward in the championship and put together a consistent weekend.”
This weekend’s event will see the full field of GR86’s take on three races across the Bathurst 1000 weekend, with practice beginning Thursday, followed by qualifying and a race on Friday, and two more races across Saturday and Sunday.
The GR Cup will serve as one of the main support categories to the Repco Supercars Championship, putting Stewart and the rest of the grid in front of some of the biggest crowds in Australian motorsport.
The young Kiwi has shown strong pace throughout the first two rounds of the 2025 season, with consistent results helping him settle his position in the championship’s top 10. Bathurst presents an opportunity to continue that momentum, while also chasing his best result of the season so far.
The Toyota GR Cup at Bathurst runs from October 9–12, supporting the Bathurst 1000. Fans can follow Ben Stewart’s progress across the weekend on his social media channels @benstewartracing.
Header Image: Jack Martin
