Meet the Supercars stars
Travelling at more than 250km/h, blink once and you might miss the Supercars zipping around when the bp Adelaide Grand Final returns this November.
It’s not often you get a look behind the wheel at the drivers who control their V8s through every twist and turn, until now. We chat to South Australian born and bred race car driver Jobe Stewart and Australian racing legend Thomas Randle who will buckle up for one of Australia’s most celebrated motoring events.
Jobe Stewart
Rising racing star Mount Gambier-born Jobe Stewart got a full-time promotion to the Repco Supercars Championship in 2026.
Lauren: My two-year-old son is absolutely obsessed with cars. So, I’m interested to know, were you a kid crazy about wheels?
Jobe Stewart: *laughs* I guess there are lots of young kids in the same boat. My dad never really raced anything himself, but he was into motorbikes a fair bit. Dad bought me a go-kart when I was about seven years old, and I think you’ll find it’s pretty similar among most other drivers as well.
L: Last year was big for you with your debut in Supercars. Can you tell us about that?
JS: So, we have the Bathurst 1000 – our biggest race of the year – and for that you have two drivers, and I was a co-driver last year, so that was my first really big race in Supercars.
L: You’re South Australia born and bred but recently made the move to Melbourne. What do you love most about being back on home soil?
JS: It [bp Adelaide Grand Final] is probably my favourite event of the year to be honest. [The track] has a pretty close spot in my heart because it’s somewhere I grew up going to with Dad, but also it kind of introduced me to the love of car racing. I’m excited to get back to Adelaide, and I’m proud to come back and race in my home state.
L: How does Adelaide’s circuit compare to other tracks around the country?
JS: I think it’s good because we have the track at Tailem Bend [in SA] and then the Adelaide street track as well. It’s kind of the best of both worlds. At Tailem Bend, it’s all brand-new facilities and a big open wide track so you get that F1 sort of style. Then you come into the city and you have the city atmosphere.
L: Most of us know what it’s like to drive a car, but not the types of cars you drive. What physical and mental training goes on before you even get behind the wheel?
JS: I guess on the mental side, it’s a competitive category. It’s just like AFL or NRL; you have to be pretty mentally fit to deal with the bad days because in motorsport there are normally a lot of bad days. Physically, most people don’t really think of it, but because our cars are all enclosed, you don’t get any cool air in your face and because they’re front engine, you get all the hot air from the engine coming through. So, the main thing for us is just heat tolerance and doing all the heat training, like sauna stuff.
Quick-fire questions
Favourite professional race car driver?
Probably Max Verstappen. He’s someone I grew up watching and I like his aggression on track.
Dream car?
It’s a bit of a tough one to be honest. I do like European cars and I’m a bit of a BMW fan, so maybe a really expensive BMW.
Superstitions or rituals before a race?
I like to keep quiet. A lot of people like to talk to calm their nerves, but for me, I like to take half an hour or so before the race to keep to myself.
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Thomas Randle
Supercars driver and cancer survivor Thomas Randle talks chemo, cars and career highlights.
Lauren: What are some of your earliest memories as a kid growing up around cars?
Thomas Randle: My dad used to race sports sedans, and I remember going to the track as a young kid. So yeah, my earliest memories were watching him race at Phillip Island. The racing genes have always been there. I remember getting my first go-kart when I was seven years old. It was probably the worst decision my parents ever made bringing me home a go-kart. *laughs*
L: What has been your biggest career highlight?
TR: Winning the 2020 Dunlop Super2 Series after being diagnosed [with testicular cancer] and having chemotherapy. That was pretty big; that was probably one of my biggest achievements.
TR: Your racing career has taken you all around the world, and soon you’ll be in good old Adelaide. What do you love most about racing here?
TR: I think just the circuit and history. I’d say arguably outside of Mount Panorama, it’s the best track we race on. And it’s just the turnout; it’s such a popular event. It always brings a huge crowd and just the fact that F1 used to drive on the same streets, albeit an extended version. It’s just got it all.
L: You’re also a pianist and featured on the ABC show The Piano last year. That seems like a big contrast to racing fast cars. What life skills are needed for both racing and playing an instrument like the piano?
TR: Good question. I mean, hand-eye coordination. Both have three pedals! *laughs* I just find it a really good way to wind down and take my mind off racing. I like the challenge of trying to learn a song and make no mistakes; it’s kind of like trying to do the perfect qualifying lap.
Quick-fire questions
Favorite professional race car driver?
Fernando Alonso.
Dream car?
Maybe an Aston Martin DB9.
Superstitions or rituals before a race?
*laughs* I don’t know; do I put my left glove on first? I don’t have any lucky underwear.
RAA is the major partner of the bp Adelaide Grand Final, which hits Adelaide’s streets from 26–29 November.
Gear up
RAA members get 10% off tickets for the RAA Grandstand and RAA Lounge (Pit Exit Suite).