The Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series season is set to be bolstered in 2026 by a record number of rookies among the 21-strong field at this weekend’s opening round at Sydney Motorsport Park (February 20-22, 2026).
No fewer than seven new faces will be competing at Round 1 in Sydney, further highlighting the category’s role as a key development platform within the Australian motorsport landscape.
Reigning Series Champion David Sieders returns to defend his title, headlining a competitive field featuring some of the category’s most experienced and successful drivers alongside emerging talent making their full-time debut. Their arrival adds unpredictability yet excitement to an already competitive field.
Leading the rookie charge will be Ruben Dan who joins the Sieders Racing Team just weeks after his 16th birthday; becoming the youngest ever competitor. Hailing from the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia Scholarship Series and winning the Legend Cars Australia title last year, the Central Coast driver said the step up into V8 SuperUtes was an easy decision.
“We wanted to commit to a national series that was competitive, with experienced drivers I could learn from, and V8 SuperUtes ticked all the boxes,” Dan said.“When we started looking at options for 2026 across a few different categories, V8 SuperUtes was one that stood out. I couldn’t ask to learn from any better drivers than my teammates Dave [Sieders], Adam Marjoram, and Aaron Borg who’ve all won titles as well. Being in a new Mazda BT-50 like Dave will help me be able to compare my progress to him which will be a big help while learning.”
Also joining the SRT rookie ranks are fellow Toyota Gazoo steerer Jack Westbury who’ll steer the Mitsubishi Triton owned by Jimmy Vernon, plus Sean Evans for Airbag Man Racing, who’s previously raced production cars and Queensland touring cars, and made a brief appearance at Sandown last year in the ex-David Casey Triton before technical gremlins put paid to his racing campaign just after practice. Fresh to a career in motorsport is also Jonathon Hanbury who joins Apogee Motorsport in the Glen Melling Holden Colorado.
Queenslander Hudson James debuts in an expanded EFS Racing outfit, steering the ex-Luke Webber Mazda BT-50 – recently bought by team owner Clayton Mortensen – to be teammate to Supercar steerer Cameron Crick.
“It’s all very new for me coming from Queensland touring cars but I’ve worked with my team manager Rod [Dawson] for many years in his V8 Race Experience business and I’m really learning a lot from he and Cameron already, especially at the test day at QR we did a few weeks ago,” said James. “Every session Cameron was there to help go through data and talk about how to better understand these V8 SuperUtes. I’m feeling a lot more settled how and just looking forward to getting out there in practice.”
Also new the series this weekend – although not rookies as far as racing expensive goes – are Toyota Gazoo GR Cup racer Jordan Freestone for SRT, and former Aussie Racing Cars and Super3 champion Justin Ruggier who will steer Cody Brewczynski’s Toyota Hilux from last year; Brewczynksi will steer the ex-Amar Sharma Mazda BT-50 – recently bought by team owner Craig Thompson – for the entirity of 2026.
Category Manager Filippa Guarna said the entry list demonstrates the continued upward trajectory of the Series.
“It’s very exciting to see so many new faces choose the Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series which says a lot about the health and momentum of the category,” said Guarna. “It reflects the confidence competitors have in us as a professional, competitive and commercially valuable platform. Seeing the return of so many front-runners alongside new drivers who represent the future of the category, this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park is expected to bring on a great mix of competitive racing.”
The Tyrepower V8 SuperUtes competitors will hit the track on Friday February 20 with practice at 11.40am, qualifying at 3.10pm and Race 1 at 5.50pm. Saturday February 21 sees Race 2 at 12.05pm and Race 3 at 2.3pm, with the final Race 4 on Sunday February 22 at 11.30am Tickets can be purchased here.
ROUND 1 ENTRY LIST
#1 WeatherTech – David Sieders (Mazda BT-50)
#4 Team Motion Racing – Aaron Borg (Isuzu DMAX)
#7 EFS 4×4 Accessories – Cameron Crick (Isuzu DMAX)
#8 Auto Masters Racing – Jason Norris (Toyota Hilux)
#15 Team Motion Racing – Adam Marjoram (Isuzu DMAX)
#18 Thrifty Western Sydney Motorsport – Cody Brewczynski (Mazda BT-50)
#21 Sieders Racing Team – Jordan Freestone (Ford Ranger)
#22 Apogee Motorsport – Jonathon Hanbury (Holden Colorado)
#29 Jack Westbury Racing – Jack Westbury (Mitsubishi Triton)
#33 Airbag Man Racing – Sean Evans (Mitsubishi Triton)
#41 Team Forty One – Adrian Cottrell (Holden Colorado)
#49 Uniden – Chris Formosa (Ford Ranger)
#55 Michael Sherwell Racing – Michael Sherwell (Mitsubishi Triton)
#64 Thrifty Western Sydney Motorsport – Craig Woods (Toyota Hilux)
#68 EFS 4×4 Accessories – Hudson James (Mazda BT-50)
#78 Uniden – Richard Mork (Mitsubishi Triton)
#88 Western Sydney Motorsport – Justin Ruggier (Toyota Hilux)
#96 JWL Racing – Brad Vereker (Toyota Hilux)
#111 Brown Commercial Build – Ruben Dan (Mazda BT-50)
#333 Shorebarge / Apogee Motorsport – Rossi Johnson (Holden Colorado)
#805 AIV Racing – Jensen Engelhardt (Toyota Hilux)