Todd Hazelwood enters the 2025 Speedcafe Driver of the Year at 25th.
Alex Ninovic won the 2025 GB3 championship. Image: Jakob Ebrey Photography
30 – Alex Ninovic
As Louis Sharp showed, winning the GB3 Championship can vault you straight into the deep end – and Alex Ninovic is on a similar trajectory.
The Australian won this year’s “Formula 3” title, beating compatriot Patrick Heuzenroeder.
He was the class of the field. Ninovic won nine of the 30-race schedule. No other driver won more than three races across the season.
He’ll graduate to the FIA Formula Regional European Championship with Rodin in 2026 – a safer and more measured step up than diving into the deep end of the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
James Allen celebrates winning the 2025 Daytona 24. Image: Brandon Badraoui/LAT Images
29 – James Allen
James Allen is Australian motorsport’s sport car sleeper.
In the ultra-competitive LMP2 division, Allen emerged on top at the Daytona 24 with United Autosports.
Alen was also a race winner in the European Le Mans Series and narrowly missed out on winning the Asian Le Mans Series.
Lochie Hughes at Laguna Seca. Image: Travis Hinkle
28 – Lochie Hughes
Lochie Hughes finished third in his rookie Indy NXT campaign.
He was beaten by the far more experienced Dennis Haugher, and was pipped to second by another experienced head in Caio Collet.
If not for a tough end to the season, Hughes could have been runner-up.
There is no doubt Hughes is the favourite for the 2026 Indy NXT title – something he’ll likely have to win to have any hope of stepping up to IndyCar in 2027.
Jayden Ojeda on the grid before Sunday’s Supercars race at the Sandown 500. Image: Kassandra Brumley
27 – Jayden Ojeda
By the time Jayden Ojeda arrived at the Bathurst 1000, PremiAir Racing had him signed for 2026.
Though the Great Race did not bear the fruit of the podium, he was a standout with Walkinshaw Andretti United teammate Ryan Wood. If not for their car expiring, they would likely have factored into the race for the win.
Ojeda’s season included third in GT World Challenge Australia, two pole positions and two podiums in GT World Challenge Asia, a full-time graduation to Supercars, and a top 10 shootout berth in his second start with PremiAir at Adelaide.
Jobe Stewart with Cooper Murray and Aaron Cameron on the grid. Image: InSyde Media
26 – Jobe Stewart
When Erebus threw Jobe Stewart into the deep end by putting him up against the primary drivers at The Bend 500, there were fears he’d sink.
Stewart shone, putting in a performance that convinced Erebus to give the young gun a full-time graduation in place of Matt Stone Racing-bound Jack Le Brocq.
Stewart’s below-par results in the Super2 Series underlined why the series is so hard to use as an accurate barometer of ability. In Supercars, however, he’s got the good.
Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood celebrate victory at The Bend. Image: InSyde Media
25 – Todd Hazelwood
He dominated the Trans Am title and won The Bend 500. What more is there to say? Todd Hazelwood turned everything to gold in 2025.
Rylan Gray aboard a Mustang GT4. Image: Race Project
24 – Rylan Gray
Rylan Gray proved he’s got the goods in 2025, winning the Super2 Series and running a close second in GT4 Australia.
Dick Johnson Racing’s decision to pick the youngster up is an achievement in and of itself.
Cooper Murray and Jobe Stewart. Image: Supplied
23 – Cooper Murray
Coopery Murray began his rookie season very much rough around the edges, but his Bathurst 1000 cemented in the minds of some what they knew he was capable of.
Murray mightn’t have threatened to make the Finals Series, but there is no reason why he can’t be a contender in 2026 if he irons out his kinks.
Team 18’s David Reynolds at Sandown Raceway. Image: Kassandra Brumley
22 – David Reynolds
Second in an epic conclusion to Bathurst 1000 was the highlight of David Reynolds’ season.
Matt Payne and James Golding begin the final lap of the Bathurst 1000. Image: Supplied
21 – James Golding
First across the line at the Bathurst 1000, a third place finish in the Great Race really was the standout result for James Golding.
The PremiAir Racing driver looked like he would put the Gold Coast-based team into the Finals Series but suffered a slump midway through the season.
Golding moves to the Blanchard Racing Team in 2026.
