Chevrolet's potential 2026 preview with triple driver evaluation
Team 18 and Erebus Motorsport both set to hold evaluation days on Thursday
Harri Jones to drive at Team 18; Jobe Stewart, Jarrod Hughes at Erebus
All three have featured in silly season rumour mill with seats available at both teams
Team 18 and Erebus Motorsport are set to be in action this week at Winton Motor Raceway, as they will run evaluation days for their rising co-driver stars ahead of the Ryco Enduro Cup.
Erebus are set to field academy prospects and Super2 stars Jobe Stewart and Jarrod Hughes, whilst Team 18 will run their second evaluation day in 12 months for Porsche standout Harri Jones.
The trio all shape as candidates to secure their maiden full-time rides in Supercars in the current silly season, as both teams have drivers coming off contract at seasons' end.
Recently appointed as Triple Eight's successor as GM homologation team, Team 18 have David Reynolds coming off contract at the end of the year, however do have an option in the favour to extend the 2017 Bathurst winner's contract for a further.
If the option on Reynolds, who is currently 18th in points following a difficult Ryco Sprint Cup, isn't taken, then Jones has long been thought of as a logical replacement.
It will be the 26-year-old's second evaluation day with Team 18 following his maiden day with the team at The Bend Motorsport Park last December, with the two-time Carrera Cup winner also at both official Supercars test days at Sydney and Ipswich.
At the time, team principal Adrian Burgess said: “He’s demonstrated immense talent in multiple categories and has a proven track record of success here and in Europe."
“Harri has great potential, and we’re eager to explore how he might fit into the future of Team 18.”
Meanwhile, Erebus' double evaluation will also come with plenty of interest surrounding their 2026 driver line-up, as Jack Le Brocq comes off contract at the end of the season.
It's widely expected that a change will be made, and that either Stewart, who has been with the Erebus Academy since 2017, or Hughes - who is backed by GM - considered the likely replacements for the-33-year-old.
Stewart spoke to Supercars.com last week about his 2026 ambitions, with another day at the helm of a Gen3 Camaro another chance for the quietly spoken South Australian to push his case ahead of an enduro campaign where he believes he and co-driver Cooper Murray can spring a surprise.
"I wouldn't say there's big expectations, but it would be nice to walk away with a couple of trophies," said the 2023 Super3 champion.
"Obviously it will be pretty tough, but as we know the car won Bathurst last year, so it's going to be quick there, and at Tailem Bend we'll just do the best job we can to try and work towards Bathurst.
"I know Cooper is quick, and the car is quick, so it's a bit of a long shot, but I think we can have some fantastic results."
The Ryco Enduro Cup will be run over the AirTouch 500 at The Bend from September 12-14, and the Repco Bathurst 1000 from October 9-12. Tickets are on sale now.
