Erebus Academy drivers Jay Hanson and Jobe Stewart will both make their Newcastle debut at the 2023 Dunlop Series season opener this weekend. 

The Image Racing duo have been busy preparing for the first round, having completed two successful test days at Winton Motor Raceway last month.

Stewart, who will also make his Super3 debut in Newcastle, is feeling confident having racked up over 100 laps in his VF Commodore.

“I’m excited heading into Newcastle and I’m feeling quite confident after our test days,” Stewart said. 

“It’s still a little daunting heading into my first Super3 event, especially at a street circuit, but it’s all about the experience and gaining valuable knowledge for the rest of the year. 

“To prepare for this new track, my engineer [Wayne Mackie] has sent through some data and video from previous years so that’s been really helpful.

“Jay and I have also been hopping on the sim and completing some laps together at Newcastle, he’s been helping me a lot since he’s been through this transition before.”

While Hanson made his Super2 debut last year, 2023 introduces new vehicles to the field with the #49 driver taking the reins of the ZB Commodore Brodie Kostecki drove in 2022.

“Heading into Newcastle is quite exciting, it’s the only track on the calendar that’s different from last year and it’ll be my first race in the ZB so I’m looking forward to it,” Hanson said.

“It can be quite daunting and easy to overstep your mark when you first get to a new street circuit but the  more and more laps you do, the more comfortable you get and it’s really all about building up to it.

“Ideally I’d love to get out there and run top five or even top three but I really just want to do the best I can and move forward from the first round with a clean car and hopefully somewhere up the front of the Championship.”

The Image Racing duo will hit the track in Newcastle on Friday for practice from 10:10am local time.