The 2022 Repco Supercars Championship rolled into action at a soggy Sydney Motorsport Park, but two Mount Gambier teenagers stole the show in the support categories.

Kai Allen and Jobe Stewart racing in the Dunlop Super3 and Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series respectively started their 2022 campaigns by dominating the podium.

Racing in a Supercar for the first time, Allen showed he could tame the beast in all conditions after torrential rain descended on Eastern Creek.

The 16-year-old felt at home in his Eggleston Motorsport VE Holden Commodore, which was famously driven by Jamie Whincup and Steve Owen in the famous Triple 8 one-two finish at the 2010 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Allen did not need any time adapting to the new environment topping the timesheets on his opening day in the field.

He not only lead the Super3 series, but was able to get amongst the faster and more experienced Super2 competitors who were also on track.

After missing out on pole by half a second to rival Brad Vaughan, Allen was keen to get the jump off the line in his debut race.

However, he dropped down to fifth after his getaway was impeded by two slow Super2 cars.

Despite multiple safety cars brining the race to an early finish, Allen got his elbows out and recovered an impressive second place behind Vaughan.

Wet and wild weather greeted drivers for the second and final race of the weekend, but the crazy conditions brought the best out of the Mount Gambier teenager.

Starting on the third row amongst the leading Super2 pilots, Allen was in the prime position for a strong result but stalled his Commodore, which allowed Vaughan to fly to a huge advantage.

After the snail-like getaway Allen was down in 25th position, 14 spots behind his rival and with it all to do.

But as carnage unfolded around him, the youngster managed to carve his way through the field and took just three green-flag laps to reach Vaughan’s bumper.

Allen was on a charge, but his assault was nearly wiped out by some craziness at turn five.

As he and Vaughan approached the right-handed sweeper, an out of control Super2 entrant Ryal Harris went flying in front of their bumpers and took out an innocent Nash Morris.

As the Super2 drivers exchanged a war of words, Allen seized the opportunity and snatched the Super3 lead to complete a miraculous comeback drive.

The Mount Gambier teenager held on to not only win the race, but also score a special round victory on Super3 debut.

Competing in the single-make Toyota 86 Series, Stewart was also busy making headlines.

At the same track where he stood on the podium for the first time last year, the Erebus Academy driver was on fire in his new-look Jobe Stewart Racing machine and could not escape the trophies.

The weekend did not start brilliantly for the youngster, who struggled with setup issues in mixed conditions during the practice sessions.

But Stewart found some pace in the intense qualifying session to put his car on the third row for the opening race.

Once the green flag dropped the Mount Gambier teen found his killer instinct, overcoming numerous safety car periods to climb up to the podium positions.

The unmistakable highlight of Stewart’s charge was a bold move he made on the man with the equal most podiums at Bathurst without a Great Race win, Warren Luff.

The Erebus Academy driver showed no nerves coming up against the Supercars veteran and swooped around the outside at one of the toughest corners on the track.

Stewart said it was a cool feeling taking on a driver with 130 Supercars races of experience during a tricky race.

“Racing Warren Luff was great, he is such a big name in motorsport,” he said.

“But he was such a respectful driver on track who raced hard but also fair and leaves room when possible.

“The move around the outside of Corporate Hill was not one I thought I could pull off, but my car was in the right position and Warren gave me enough space to sweep around for definitely one of the best moves of my career so far.

“The race was difficult but I went as aggressive as I could after the safety car to get position three around the outside of turn one on the last lap.”

After the rain arrived on Sunday, Stewart enjoyed a less eventful drive to a career-best position of second place which he said was a great thrill to score.

Due to the racing line drying out, Stewart was one of many drivers caught starting on the wet section of the track and he slipped down to fourth.

But once again Stewart launched into a recovery drive to reclaim the podium position before being forced to defend it like his life depended on it.

“I started on the inside which was the wet side of the track and gave me very little traction at all when the lights went out causing me to lose the position,” he said.

“During the final laps the car was not handling the greatest as it was not set up for a dry track and I was also under an insane amount of pressure from Bailey Sweeney.

“I was just blocking in the places where he could pass and it was good enough so that he could not steal third.”

Buoyed by the stunning opener to the season, Stewart is now looking forward to what 2022 has in store.

“It’s such a relief to start the season of with podiums in each race,” he said.

“It just gives the confidence for the rest of the season knowing that myself and the car is fast enough to fight at the front.

“It was one of the most complete weekends in my career.

“It is a massive confidence booster heading into the rest of the season and hopefully with a bit of hard work and luck I will be able to challenge for that first win in the category.”