It’s the calm before the storm in Adelaide as Mount Gambier motorsport talents Jobe Stewart (pictured) and Kai Allen suit up for the title decider in the final round of their respective Super3 and Super2 championships at the iconic VAILO Adelaide 500 parklands circuit.
The race is sure to be an excitement-fuelled outing for all Supercars categories, with the Supercars, Super2 and Super3 titles still up for grabs after a year of high-octane racing.
Both drivers will be giving it their all around the 3.2km circuit and will leave nothing on the table in search of championship glory.
Stewart leads the Dunlop Super3 Series championship by 192 points, while Kai Allen trails behind Dunlop Super2 Series leader Zak Best by a mere 30 points.
Ahead of the big race, Stewart said while holding a handy lead over Jett Johnson and Cameron McLeod, he was still focussed on driving to the top step of the podium.
“I will definitely try and win, winning is going to be the main goal and because I have got that little buffer in the championship now I think I will just go out there and give it all I have got,” Stewart said.
“It definitely gives me a bit of confidence and it is kind of mine to lose I guess you could say, so it puts a bit more pressure on but also it’s a lot better to be in the position I am.
Stewart said his race preparation would not alter course despite the Super3 title being decided at the final round.
“I’ll just go in there and try and qualify as fast as I can and then just do my thing in the races that I have always been doing, just try and improve myself and try to win it at the same time if I can.
“It’s more just about trying to focus on the weekend and not really focus on the championship. Just keep that in the back of my mind and just focus on the driving.
“You cannot really go in expecting too much but also you can just go in wanting to win which is what everyone on the track wants to do.”
Despite Johnson being closer to Stewart’s championship lead points wise, the Image Racing driver said his biggest competition would be on-track rival McLeod.
“Jett is not too bad, he has been pretty fast at some races but McLeod I think will be faster at Adelaide,” Stewart said.
“He’s definitely going to be the biggest competition … and he’s been pretty fast so I think he’ll still be pretty fast going into Adelaide.
“We have been pretty close this year and he’s made a benchmark for me, to come out on top against him will be a pretty good feeling.”
The Mount Gambier racer said to take home the Super3 championship would feel like all the hard work this season has paid off.
“To do it in my first year would be pretty cool as well, I know everyone I am racing against is pretty much rookies too but still to do it in my first year as technically a rookie in the category would put me in a pretty good spot going into next year,” he said.
“I will try and stay with Image Racing if I can and hopefully step it up to Super2s next year, nothing’s been confirmed or anything yet but that’s the plan for sure.
“Hopefully I can win the championship and a win at Adelaide would be the best way to do it.”
Meanwhile Allen will be driving for redemption this weekend as he had his Dunlop Super3 Series championship dream crushed last year when the front runner crashed out in the final round at Adelaide and was unable to finish the deciding race.
“I did Super3 last year (and it) came down to the wire and I learnt a lot that year ,” he said.
“I am not too fussed about the championships, Zak has been strong all year, so (the aim is to) just do the best I can and the racing gods will decide.”
“I’m just going to do the best I can and make sure it does not end like last year.”
