Matt Stone Racing
Team(s): Bigmate Racing
Manufacturer: Ford
Team Principal: Matt Stone
Chassis: Ford Falcon FG X
Debut: 2018
Drivers’ Championships: –
Driver: Todd Hazelwood (Bigmate Racing)
A brief history
Matt Stone Racing was founded in late 2010 when owner/manager Matt Stone, son of Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) co-owner Jim, decided to branch out and enter his own team in the 2011 development series (Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series).
Matt had previously worked in the Australian racing industry from a young age mentored by his father and uncle Ross, and worked with the SBR team on and off for six years.
Leasing Russell Ingall’s 2005 V8 Supercars championship-winning Stone Brothers Racing-built Falcon BF, driver Robert Cregan, the first Irishman to compete in a V8 Supercar, finished the team’s maiden season in 12th.
Having expanded to two Falcon BFs in 2012 with Daniel Jilesen and Ashley Walsh joining the team, the Queensland-based outfit took on a third car ahead of the third round when the SBR-entered Falcon FG of Scott McLaughlin transferred to the team after a conflict in sponsorship interests. McLaughlin went on to win the series.
The team continued in the development series until 2017 with drivers including Ash Walsh (2013, 2014), George Miedecke (2013), Michael Hector (2013, 2014), Todd Hazelwood (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Shae Davies (2015), Adam Marjoram (2016, 2017), Brodie Kostecki (2017).
In 2017, Hazelwood won six races winning the championship by 95 points. The team also signalled its intentions to step up to the main game fielding Hazelwood under the Super2 wildcard program at Queensland Raceway, where he placed 18th and 22nd. Hazelwood also made his PIRTEK Enduro Cup debut with Brad Jones Racing alongside Tim Blanchard.
2018
The team then announced it would be stepping up to the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship in 2018 having secured a Racing Entitlements Contract from the retiring Jason Bright. Under the two-year deal Hazelwood will race an ex-DJR Team Penske Ford FG-X Falcon purchased by South Australian Businessman and long time supporter James Rosenberg. The team have also formed a partnership with the Shell V-Power Racing Team. iSeek Communications owner and Touring Car Masters racer Jason Gommersall will continue to support Hazelwood with backing from Bigmate.