Having impressed at a recent test, Jaylyn Robotham has been rewarded by Matt Stone Racing with a coveted co-drive for the 2023 Supercars enduros.
Robotham will partner full-time rookie Cameron Hill in the #35 Matt Stone Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at this year’s Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 races.
His signature completes Matt Stone Racing’s endurance line up with Jayden Ojeda being retained to race alongside Jack Le Brocq, while incumbent Aaron Seton will not return.
Now only three co-driver positions are left at Blanchard Racing Team and PremiAir Racing.
Jaylyn Robotham in action in Cameron Hill’s Camaro at Queensland Raceway. Image: Supplied
The news comes less than a week after Robotham got his first drive of a Gen3 Supercar with the two-car team at Queensland Raceway last week.
The youngster cut some laps of the #35 Camaro around the “Paperclip” and left wanting more after the brief taste.
Well now he can enjoy the whole thing, when he lines up with former Super2 rival Hill at two of the biggest races in Australia – the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000.
“I am really excited to be joining Cam and MSR in the #35 Truck Assist Camaro for the enduro rounds this season,” said Robotham.
Cameron Hill shares some wisdom with Jaylyn Robotham at Matt Stone Racing’s June 1 test. Image: Mark Horsburgh
“We had a decent test last week and it felt good with the team.
“Having worked with Paul Forgie before (in a successful 2019 TA2 Asia Series campaign) and also doing my first evaluation day with MSR a few years ago, I found it a lot easier coming into the team.
“I can’t thank everyone enough that made this possible and also to everyone at MSR for this opportunity.”
This will be Robotham’s first time driving for a full-time Supercars team, but it won’t be his maiden start.
Matt Chahda and Jaylyn Robotham competed as a privateer wildcard at the 2022 Bathurst 1000: Mark Horsburgh/EDGE Photographics
The 20-year-old formed one half of the Caltex wildcard entry with Matt Chahda, which recorded a solid P18 finish.
Robotham spent 2022 racing against Hill in the 2022 Dunlop Super2 Series and despite taking part in the Newcastle opener in March, he has had a more diverse racing calendar in 2023.
The youngster has taken part in the first two rounds of the Trans Am season and currently sits eighth in the championship after collecting a podium finish at Tasmania.
Robotham has even raced overseas in Thailand and won a Super GTC Class race driving a Mustang in the nation’s Super Series.
In addition to his versatility, the youngster made a good impression on Hill at the recent test day, which paved a path to the swift co-driver announcement.
Jaylyn Robotham on his way to victory in Thailand.
“I’m looking forward to sharing the car with Jaylyn come enduro season,” said Hill.
“He has a good head on his shoulders, the right attitude and he’s quick as well, so he ticks all the boxes for us.
“Last week when we had Jaylyn join us for the test day, he gelled really well with the team and did a good job on track.
“I’m definitely excited for the enduro season.”
With Hill showing strong speed at Symmons Plains achieving career-best result of P8, plus qualifying inside the top 10 for all three races, and now signing a promising young co-driver, MSR team owner Matt Stone believes car #35 can be a dark horse come September.
Both Matt Stone Racing cars Cameron Hill and Jack Le Brocq fought at the front in Tasmania. Image: Mark Horsburgh
Stone said Robotham has already settled in well at the team and is excited by what the pairing will be capable of later in the year.
“We are pleased to welcome Jaylyn into the MSR family as Car #35 co-driver,” said Stone.
“Already Jaylyn is immediately fitting in well with the team, and having worked with Car #35 race engineer Paul Forgie in the past, that has sped up the process.
“He did a good job in the Caltex wildcard last year in difficult conditions and has proven he can drive around Bathurst in a decent lap time with no mistakes over a six-hour race.
“Cam and Jaylyn are a good, young combination and Jaylyn will perform his role as a co-driver very well for Car #35.”
Before the Sandown 500 arrives on September 15-17, the co-drivers will complete more Gen3 tests in the lead up to the pre-Bathurst classic.
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