Stewart: I want to be in main game next year

Jobe Stewart has outlined his desires to join the Repco Supercars Championship in 2026 as questions remain over who will partner Cooper Murray at the reigning Bathurst champions next season.

Murray is locked in at Erebus for 2026 having signed a multi-year deal with the team to replace Brodie Kostecki, however the future of Jack Le Brocq is less certain.

Le Brocq's contract with the 2023 teams' champions expires at seasons' end, with a difficult year leaving the two-time race winner just 16th in points entering the enduros.

Paddock speculation has linked the 33-year-old with a return to Matt Stone Racing for 2026, with Erebus believed to be sticking to their youth policy for a replacement.

Erebus CEO Barry Ryan has long been an advocate of 21-year-old Stewart, who has been entrenched in the Erebus Academy from age 12, going so far to declare him a 'future Erebus champion in Supercars' after winning the Super3 Series in 2023.

"Yeah 100%, I definitely want to be there in the main game next year," Stewart told Supercars.com.

"I'm not really sure yet what's going on with seats, but if I can stay with Erebus that would be great.

"I've been working with Barry and Betty [Klimenko] pretty closely for many years now, and I think the team is pretty happy with what I've been doing over the past couple of years.

"We'll see how it plays out and focus on enduros. I'll worry about that stuff afterwards."

Stewart has been on a rapid rise through the Supercars pathway, only making his debut in Supercars machinery in 2023 driving a VF Commodore in the Super3 Series.

Stewart was a model of consistency through his sole Super3 campaign, only finishing outside the top two once to claim the title over Jett Johnson and Cameron McLeod.

The South Australian also impressed in his rookie Super2 campaign last year, finishing fifth in a season highlighted by a crushing Friday win at the Bathurst 1000, and further podiums at Sandown and the season-opening Bathurst 500.

An audition of sorts will come in the Ryco Enduro Cup, with Stewart to drive the #99 Camaro alongside Murray at the AirTouch 500 at The Bend and the Repco Bathurst 1000, marking Stewart's first steps into the main game.

"He [Ryan] has pretty much been the one who pushed me through this pathway, from go-karts straight into Toyota 86, and then through the Super3 and Super2 stuff. Without him, I definitely wouldn't where I am now, and Betty as well for supporting me," Stewart said.

"With everything she does for the team and all the other team members involved at Erebus Motorsport, it's been great to have them in my corner."