Madeline Stewart

Madeline Stewart is a third-generation New Zealand racing driver who’s spent over a decade climbing the motorsport ladder from karts to Porsche single-make competition, relocating to Indianapolis to chase her dream on the international stage.

EARLY YEARS

Born in New Zealand into a family where racing ran in the blood, Stewart grew up knowing exactly what she wanted to do with her life. As a third-generation racing driver, the sport wasn’t just a hobby—it was legacy, coded into her DNA before she ever sat behind a wheel.[1]

Her family didn’t just support her ambitions; they went all in. For five straight years, they traveled from New Zealand to Australia more than 22 weekends per year so she could compete in karting. Twenty-two weekends. That’s flights, accommodations, logistics, and sheer determination to give their daughter a fighting chance in a sport that doesn’t hand out participation trophies. Most families struggle to make it to soccer practice twice a week. The Stewarts were crossing the Tasman Sea every other weekend.[1]

Stewart started karting in New Zealand, cutting her teeth on home turf for three years before the family made the leap to Australia, where the competition was fiercer and the opportunities bigger. While still competing in New Zealand, she simultaneously ran campaigns in the Australian Kart Championship and the Rotax Pro Tour—a grueling schedule that would exhaust most adults, let alone a teenager.[1]

OTHER INTERESTS

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EARLY SUCCESS

Stewart’s karting career was no gentle warm-up. She won an Australian State Title in Rotax categories and led the Rotax Pro Tour championship for the first half of the season—a remarkable achievement given the level of competition.[1]

Then she decided to make things harder for herself. She stepped up to KZ2, the elite shifter kart class, where she competed as one of the youngest drivers in the field and—for several years—the only female. KZ2 karts are six-speed machines that require physical strength, split-second reflexes, and zero margin for error. She finished second at the New Zealand national championship in the category, proving she belonged among the country’s best.[1]

She also raced twice at the SKUSA Las Vegas event, gaining exposure to American racing culture years before she’d eventually make the move stateside.[1]

In 2019, she got a taste of what came next when V8 Supercar team owner Brad Jones offered her a test day in a Super3 car—a 2012 Holden V8 Commodore. “It was a huge step jumping from a Kart into a 2012 Holden V8 Commadore,” she recalled. “This was the beginning of my Career in Car Racing, something I never imagined I would be lucky enough to do.”[1]

That test was a turning point. The shifter karts were fast, technical, and unforgiving, but V8 Supercars were an entirely different beast—raw power, weight, and the kind of driving that separates hopefuls from contenders.

Around 2021, she caught the attention of Le Mans winner Earl Bamber, who began mentoring and managing her career. She joined Earl Bamber Motorsport to compete in Australian Porsche competition, diving into the world of GT3 Cup racing where the cars are identical and success comes down to who’s better, not who has deeper pockets.[3]

In 2022, she ran a full championship in Australia, learning the discipline and precision that Porsche racing demands. Then, mid-year, she attended the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta as a spectator. She fell hard for the American racing scene—the energy, the crowds, the professionalism. By 2023, she’d made the leap, moving to Indianapolis and entering the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America.[1][2]

Her rookie season in the States was no fluke. She finished third overall in the championship driving a 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with JDX Racing, proving she could adapt to new tracks, new competition, and a new country without missing a beat.[1][2]

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• YEAR UNKNOWN: Won Australian State Title in Rotax karting categories[1].
• YEAR UNKNOWN: Led Rotax Pro Tour championship for first half of season[1].
• YEAR UNKNOWN: Finished 2nd at New Zealand national championship in KZ2 shifter kart class[1].
• 2019: Tested Super3 car (2012 Holden V8 Commodore) with V8 Supercar team owner Brad Jones[1].
• 2023: Finished 3rd overall in Porsche Sprint Challenge North American Championship with JDX Racing[1][2].
• 2024: Scored top-ten finishes at Road America and Road Atlanta in rookie Porsche Carrera Cup North America season[2].
• 2024: Earned championship points in six of final eight races of Porsche Carrera Cup North America season[2].

INSPIRATIONS

Stewart’s biggest influence has been her family—three generations of racers who understood the commitment, the sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit required to make it. Their willingness to cross oceans every other weekend wasn’t just support; it was belief made tangible.[1]

Earl Bamber, the Le Mans winner who took her under his wing, has been instrumental in shaping her professional path. “I’m lucky I get to work with Earl Bamber, who mentors and manages me as well, so he has some amazing Porsche connections worldwide,” she said.[3]

But perhaps the most visceral inspiration came in 2022, when she stood trackside at Road Atlanta during Petit Le Mans. Watching the cars thunder past, feeling the energy of American endurance racing, something clicked. Within months, she’d relocated to the United States, ready to chase the dream on a bigger stage.[1][2]

REPUTATION

Stewart has built a reputation as a racer who shows up, does the work, and delivers results. Her rookie season in Porsche Carrera Cup North America proved she wasn’t just along for the ride—her late-season surge with points finishes in six of the final eight rounds showed she learns fast and adapts faster.[2]

She’s also known for being pragmatic about racing. When asked why she chose Porsche competition, she didn’t give some dreamy answer about brand heritage. Instead: “I think the racing is amazing in both Sprint Challenge and Carrera Cup Australia. It’s the closest racing there is, which develops you into a better driver. I also like that all the cars are the same so there’s no concern of whether one car is better or worse than another, it’s pretty much all down to the driver.”[3]

That’s the kind of no-nonsense perspective that earns respect in the paddock. She’s not here for excuses or variables—she wants to race where talent wins.

As one of the few women to compete in KZ2 shifter karts in Australia and New Zealand—and as one of the youngest in that brutal class—she’s already proven she can handle being the outlier in the room. She didn’t make a big deal about it; she just raced.[1]

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Stewart is returning to JDX Racing for the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America season, her second year in the series. She’ll be one of four confirmed drivers, alongside Sabré Cook and Paul Bocuse, when the season kicks off with a doubleheader at Sebring International Raceway on March 12-14, supporting the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The team will hit the track for pre-season testing March 3-4.[2]

But Sebring is just the beginning. Her sights are set significantly higher. “I’m looking at Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which is my main aim,” she’s stated clearly.[3]

The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is the top rung of Porsche’s single-make ladder—a series that races on Formula 1 weekends across Europe, offering global exposure and a direct pipeline to factory driver opportunities. It’s where careers are made, where sponsors pay attention, and where the best Porsche drivers in the world go head-to-head. Getting there requires results, connections, funding, and timing. With Bamber’s mentorship and Porsche’s Female Driver Program backing, she’s positioning herself strategically.[2][3]

Stewart has also expressed interest in continuing international racing through Porsche’s global network, potentially including Carrera Cup Australia as a next step. “Some pretty cool opportunities will be in the works too and I’m keen to take any opportunity that comes,” she said.[3]

COVID-19 derailed her plans to compete in Asia, but she hasn’t given up on racing globally. The Porsche pathway—with its interconnected series across continents—offers exactly that possibility, and she’s confident it can get her there.[3]

For someone who declared 13 years ago that her one goal was to be a professional racing driver, Stewart has been methodical, patient, and relentless. She’s not chasing viral moments or quick fame. She’s building a career brick by brick, race by race, continent by continent.[1]

The move to Indianapolis in 2023 was bold. Leaving home, leaving familiarity, and betting on herself in a new market takes guts. But for a driver whose family crossed the Tasman Sea every other weekend for five years, bold moves are just part of the plan.[2]

Her path forward is clear: master Carrera Cup North America, prove she belongs at the next level, and punch her ticket to Supercup. And if past performance is any indicator, she’ll get there—because Madeline Stewart doesn’t do anything halfway.

References:

Madeline Stewart Official Website
Madeline Stewart Returns to JDX Racing – Porsche Carrera Cup North America
70 Years Porsche People: Courtney Prince and Madeline Stewart – Porsche Newsroom
Madeline Stewart Returns to Porsche Carrera Cup North America with JDX Racing – Racers Behind the Helmet