The career of speedy Mount Gambier teen Jobe Stewart has been stalled by countless COVID-19 related setbacks, but he hopes the only obstacles occurring in 2022 are in his rear view mirror.

Stewart enters his third calendar year in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series and is ready to attack it head on, hoping it will be the first where he is able to enter every round.

The season kicks off this weekend alongside the Repco Supercars Championship at Sydney Motorsport Park, where the Limestone Coast pilot has some very happy memories.

In the penultimate round of the 2021 season, but Stewart’s first in nine months, drivers were forced to deal with torrential wet conditions, which were deemed too extreme for the Supercars stars.

But Stewart and the rest of the Toyota 86 Series field had to deal with diabolical conditions and the Blue Lake city star walked on water to score an incredible podium finish.

It was a stunning drive for the 16-year-old with his previous best finish in his short racing career ninth and the privateer kept the good times rolling in the following round at Bathurst collecting a hat-trick of fourth places.

The run of strong results gives Stewart plenty of momentum heading into 2022 and he cannot wait to jump behind the wheel of his Toyota 86 again with some fresh war paint.

“The strong results do not feel too long ago, so I am just excited to get back into it,” he said.

“I have been doing a few laps in the sim, but have not done much practice in real life.

“I went to The Bend about a month ago, but other than that I have had a bit of a break focusing on school and work and designing the new livery.

“We have the same colours and a new sponsor, but a slightly different design which was fun to make.

“You never know what could happen this year and COVID-19 could come back, so hopefully we can just focus on the racing.”

With Stewart’s Sydney success still fresh in the mind from three months ago, he feels as prepared as possible to launch another assault on the podium at the fast-flowing track formally known as Eastern Creek – particularly with rain forecast again.

“I am feeling confident, especially off the back of the great results from last year,” he said.

“Its great to have the first round at a track I have had success at because you need to be at the top of your game.

“Last year was my first time at Sydney, but now I know all of the little bumps and lines around the track.

“Even driving in the wet last year is going to be important because I think it might be wet again this year, so it is just great to have some previous experience.”

Just to get to the grid at the back-to-back rounds in Sydney and Bathurst last year, Stewart and his father had to sacrifice a month from school and work respectively.

To make the journey even harder, the uncertainty of being allowed back into their home state played on their minds until the final day as border restrictions were still in place.

This time the small team will make the big trek to the harbour city with a lot more freedom.

Stewart remains in the same car with a tight bunch of team members around him, which creates a close and supportive environment around him and limits distractions and feels he has developed a great understanding of how to get the best out of the machine since his debut at the 2020 Bathurst 1000.

“I do not know it quite like the back of my hand, but pretty well now,” he said.

“Last year we tried a few different things with the car setup which worked at Bathurst, so we feel in a pretty good spot.

“We know how each other work and can share things without being scared while developing the car our way which is really good.

“I think I have improved a lot as a driver, so we have a great idea about the whole package.”

The wealth of knowledge gained over the best part of one and a half years means Stewart is aiming to soar higher than ever.

Boosted by the success of the end of last year, the Erebus Academy driver now wants to be a serious championship contender and put his name in lights.

“I would like to be in the top three in the championship,” he said.

“Obviously I want to go for my first ever race win, but if I can finish anywhere in the top three I will be happy.

“It was not that long ago since I was struggling to get into the top 10, so hunting for podiums does feel a bit weird, but I am still pretty confident.”