Built through years of Porsche One-Make racing across two continents, Madeline Stewart’s journey reaches its next milestone in 2026 as she graduates from Porsche Carrera Cup North America to IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge.
After two seasons in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, the New Zealand racer will graduate into multi-class endurance competition with the Indianapolis-based Czabok-Simpson Motorsport (CSM).
Stewart got her first taste of IMSA competition at the Roar Before the Rolex 24, using the event to learn a new car, team, and the intensity of multi-class racing at Daytona. Sharing driving duties with experienced teammates Gordon Scully and Morgan Burkart, she leaned on their knowledge of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport while building confidence and preparation for her move to Michelin Pilot Challenge.
“I’m really excited to be racing Michelin Pilot Challenge this year with CSM,” Stewart said.
“We’ve been working on this deal for the past few months, and it’s now a three-year deal. So I feel really excited about being in a team that has big goals, and we have a long-term plan together.”
That sense of progression has defined Stewart’s career. Her Porsche journey began in Australia before she crossed the Pacific and immediately made an impression in North America.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be with Porsche for quite a few years now,” she explained.
“I started in Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia. From there, I moved across to the US into Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama – arriving in Sebring not knowing a whole lot about the tracks or anything about racing in the US, but I put it on pole at the first race weekend, and we had a really strong campaign for the 2023 season.”
That debut year with JDX Racing ended with third in the championship, followed by two seasons in Carrera Cup – a series Stewart credits as being pivotal to her readiness for the next level.
“Carrera Cup North America is easily known as one of the most competitive Carrera Cup championships around the world,” she said.
“Racing in a one-make series really leaves no room to hide. You really have to work on your driving, and every single one percent counts because you’re in the same car as everybody else with the same opportunity.
“I think racing Carrera Cup has really put me in a position where I can progress into this opportunity. I feel really grateful to have gotten to race in that championship and learn all the ins and outs of US motorsport. I’ve got to go to all the tracks, and I feel really prepared to take this next step now.”
That preparation has already been put to use as Stewart begins life in the Michelin Pilot Challenge paddock, where the scale and depth of competition is immediately apparent.
“Michelin Pilot Challenge is full of really, really fantastic drivers. It’s a strong field with a lot of cars,” she said. There’s been a lot to take in and a lot to learn.
“A new track, a new team, a new car – there’s lots going on. But we had a really successful test, so I think the race is going to be fantastic.”
Sharing driving duties with experienced teammates Scully and Burkart, Stewart believes this will give her a key advantage as she adapts to longer races, traffic management, and strategy.
“I’m racing with Gordon Scully and Morgan Burkart, and they’ve done this race previously,” she said.
“I worked with them a lot at the Roar test to get lots of experience and information moving into the race. That’s been really important for me.”
Underlying Stewart’s progression has been the backing of Porsche Motorsport North America and the Porsche Mobil 1 Female Driver Program, support she is quick to acknowledge as career-defining.
“Having the support from Porsche Motorsport North America, along with Mobil 1 and being a part of the Mobil 1 Female Driver Program, has really been crucial to my performance and my opportunities here in North America,” Stewart said.
“Without their support, I wouldn’t have been on the grid in Carrera Cup, so I’m really grateful to be a part of the program.
“I’ve also had the opportunity through that program to learn so much about being a good racing driver – being well-rounded inside the race car and outside of it. That’s been crucial to my development and really put me in this position.”
