Welcome to the Motorsport Brief. As the season of endurance gets underway in supercars, there's
a couple of rising stars to watch. Today, we're going to talk to one of them.
Good day, everyone. Rusty here. Shortly to Jaden O'Jader, and I am pleased that we are
finally getting him on the pod for the very first time. The juice, as he's affectionately
known, is doing some great things, both internationally in sports car or GT racing,
but he is back with Walkenshaw and Dredi United and paired with one of the hottest properties
in the pit lane at the moment in Rhinewood. They are a good combo. Now, we've also previewed
the Sunrasia Safari in recent days in another episode of the Shortcast. Dean and Rob Herridge
joined us for that. You can find their feature EPs in our library, but they are
taking Subaru's, including a new WRX, on this gruelling 1200K cross-country rally
on the edge of the desert in New South Wales along parts of the South Australian border.
It is incredible countryside, longest rally of its kind on the Australian motorsport calendar.
There's bikes competing there too and a whole lot more. And also in the field is a former winner
in Tony Quinn in a beast, a Dakar spec VA power at Navara. Now, we know how much all of you
enjoy ATQ catch up. He was in great form. He's in the second half of that
Shortcast with the Herridges. He talks about his grandson Ryder's impressive drive in GT4
last weekend. To our guest today, he has done the hard yards as he, you know, and the climb really
is continuing in many respects. He's shown a level of professionalism that the next wave
of young races could really learn on. He won the GT World Challenge Race last Sunday at
the Bend. He's in good form, going into the 500. Jaden, congratulations and thank you for
joining us. Yeah, thanks for having me on Rusty. I'm looking, looking forward to it.
It was great for Paul Lucitti, who you're paired with and the crew from to Ghani that
first win for Mercedes on Australian soil, if you like, this year. You look like you actively
coach Paul on the run over the course of the race weekend and even during the one hour,
one hour races proper over the radio. Do you do that? And do you enjoy that?
Yeah, obviously awesome to get the win with Paul. Super, super special for him and the team.
Obviously, we won the Sydney three hour last year, but this is our first sprint win together.
And for me, it's been a massive project of mine, obviously now driving for the second year
with Paul. And, you know, for a guy that's very fresh into motorsport, it's just so awesome
to really put your arm around him and sort of nurture him through and to see them get results
like this is obviously super special and it's awesome to be part of projects and especially
when you're getting getting results and seeing improvements that it really makes you appreciate
what you do and like feel very lucky to be a part of it as well. You're with the Mercedes AMG
family nowadays, but you did a bit of coaching for kind of the next generation via motorsport
Australia at Sipang in recent years, laying down benchmark times for the Ferrari Academy
juniors. Tell us about that role and kind of giving back already at such a young age in your
own career. Yeah, coaching for me has been, you know, something I've really done since I was
about 18, even though I was only sort of in Formula Four, Super 3 at that point, I started
coaching already. Initially, it was to make a sort of a quick dollar. Obviously, it's sort of
doing complete university or anything like that. So that's sort of the easiest way I could
sort of get some get some money coming back in that really took to it and really enjoyed it and
just love, you know, love giving back to the sport in whatever way I can and to see people get
success and feel like you're part of someone else's journey is like an awesome rewarding
feeling. So it's definitely something that fills up my cup. The Merck announcement came in
December last year. Tell us kind of about the lead up to that where you found out
and perhaps what really helped get it over the line and secure it. Yeah, the GT stuff
for me has always been something that's definitely taken my interest, but being from Australia,
obviously it's a very far away place from the epicenter of Europe for GT. So sort of bridging
that gap was always quite difficult and it sort of only came about a little bit left field where
I was looking for a program to sort of keep myself busy in 2023 and managed to find my way into
an AMG here in Australia and then sort of met the right people along the way,
you know, a massive influence over me getting the AMG stuff was, is Matthew Harby who I still
work very closely with now and we work together on a lot of the AMGs that I drive throughout the
world. So he was the person that sort of helped me get it all across the line and really teed
it all together. So, you know, it's one of those things that you snort. Sometimes it's not
what you know, it's really who you know and it just shows when, you know, I was bashing
down the door of supercars for so long and trying to make that break. Something that
I was just using as a placeholder really, really took off and really elevated and, you know, along
the way still wasn't, was never easy. Definitely had its difficulties and it was just awesome to
sort of keep pursuing it and keep pushing it. And, you know, I took a real, I backed Matthew
at the end of that 2023 year. He said, look, give me 12 months of trying to make this happen
for you, believe in me and getting you into AMG. And I opted to do that. So passed on a
couple of supercar opportunities there and said, okay, we're going to give this AMG thing a 12
months ago, which was last year in 2024. And by December, obviously got the announcement that
I was an AMG junior. So, you know, 18 months after the first time driving a GT3 car to sign
with Mercedes AMG is an incredible, incredible feeling. And, you know, this year has been
awesome as well. And just really enjoying my racing at the moment.
Great stuff. What's been the highlight for you this year then in that type of racing?
Last weekend was pretty special, you know, like to see, you know, Paul's not one for media and
he's obviously quite shy, but he's a great dude, you know, he's awesome to be around and he's
awesome for our team. And just to just to be a part of something like that and, you know,
something that that he's done all on himself, you know, sure, sure, I gave him the car and
the lead, but the safety car straight after the pitstop sequence, you know,
really nullified that there was no pitstop penalties, whatever. So it was all done
on merit and he had to really gritty his teeth and grind that out. So it was really,
you know, just really rewarding to see that for him and his progression and,
you know, he's joy for the sport. Like he is loving it now more than he ever has,
which is always enjoyable for us and enjoyable for everyone else around him as well.
Yeah, really cool result for all of you collectively. We're in September now.
Is 2026 kind of looking good there on the GT side of things and for more racing abroad?
Yeah, yeah, for sure. You know, all the stuff, same G, this is gone really well. Obviously done
my fair share of stuff here in Australia, but also cross into Asia and being fairly busy and
been doing well there. So for sure, the next step for me is to do more,
more ang stuff, which which is looking promising.
Okay, cool. Is there a little kind of private wish there, mate, that you'd love to,
you know, whether it's a spa or something on the international scene, is there
there something that's on the wish list?
Yeah, yeah, for sure. There's a lot of those bucket list circuits and events that
I'd love to do. Got to drive Suzuki this year, which was an awesome experience, but for sure,
getting to spa and especially spa 24 or all the big 24 hour races is something that's on,
I think everyone, every GT drivers bucket list. So for sure, it's at the top of mine as well.
Good on you. All right, I know I'm very mindful, mate, that there's probably things
in play you've been linked with some things super car wise back home is. So just, I guess,
share what you can, if you can, are things looking good for potential more super cars
appearances in in 26 as well? Yeah, let's see. Ultimately, I just want to sort through the
my ang stuff first, because, you know, obviously, that's a pretty important part of my life at the
moment. So work my way through that obviously got the super car enduro to get through as well
with with woody and walking shore and ready united. So just full focus into into doing my
roles for that team. And then we'll see what the future comes after that.
Cool. We spoke to Ryan walking shore on the pod recently, and he was thrilled
that you were back with WAU. When did that kind of come back on the radar?
Yeah, late last year, you know, sort of had a good run in the in the endurance last year
and was sort of looking at what was possible. And obviously, the the announcement of the Toyota
stuff was was really cool. And obviously, my relationship with walking shore is is pretty
strong. And I've always stayed pretty closely connected to them even after the wildcard. So
it sort of was the right fit for me. And it's it's awesome to sort of join back up with the team.
And it sort of feels like I've never left. Beautiful more with Jaden Ojeda right after this.
This is the motorsport brief on the eve of the Ben 500 and through the eyes in some respects
of a young racer with great ambition in a good car playing an important role to
during the season of endurance back to our chat with Jaden Ojeda now.
Woody, you mentioned a moment ago, ninth in the standings for him, that group around him on the
ladder. They're all in real close company mode. Do you think about that? Or is it just focus on
each race focus on the 500, then focus on Bathurst, so to speak?
Yeah, just play it lap by lap. You know, sure, we're racing a few guys there to make
it into the final spot. But there's a lot of other cars that will be in our race,
no doubt as well. So just take it lap by lap session by session. You know, the biggest thing
obviously there's a lot of points on the table. So just making sure we can get through these two
events with, you know, without without dropping a lot of those points or any sort of silly mistakes,
just executing good weekends. And then the, you know, the rest always will sort of sort
itself out. What's it been like working with Ryan? He's a he's a character and
how do you kind of best fit in there with with he and his team?
Yeah, yeah, it's been good, actually. Both Woody and I, we've stayed on. Obviously,
we both raced against each other this last weekend in the tail and bend in the GTs. So
we stayed on in Adelaide for a few days. And so it's been been fun getting to hang out, talk
about obviously talk shop, but also just just relax and chill out and really just get to
enjoy each other's company. And yeah, it's been been entertaining.
He's been cycling up a storm. I think he got a special present from Ryan Walkenshaw for
some of his results this year, but you enjoy cycling, you know, I think probably in Sydney
and beyond to my tell us about that side of it. Yeah, yeah. When when Woody and I found out we're
going to be driving with each other, we said, oh, let's bring our bikes to tail and bend and
we'll ride for a couple of days in Adelaide. And I held up my side of the bargain, but Woody's
bike seemed to just stay in, stay in Melbourne. Funny how that one worked out, but nah, he's been
right into it ever since. Obviously, he found out he was going to be getting his,
his flash new bike from from the boss. So yeah, it's been good. I love my cycling. It's been
something that I've been right into, you know, just just become the ambassador for the
dementia research community in Sydney who do that Bondi to Berry ride in November. So it's
really, really cool to be part of, you know, sort of mix my passion with something that supports
the good cause as well. So for me, I just enjoy it. It's good. I don't like running. So I guess the
next best thing is riding a bike. Right stuff. I'll get the link off you for that. And we'll
share it in our app description for that event. You've just done two GT races at the bend
last weekend, an hour reach different machinery admittedly. But this is new turf in an
endurance sense, I guess you could say for supercars. What sort of things are going
to be key to a good result in the 530 you reckon? Yeah, it's obviously been a little bit since
supercars have raced at the bend and the first time in an enduro format. So I think a big thing
with tail and bend being such a high speed circuit and obviously quite a big circuit at that
as well, like the cars are super sensitive to any bodywork damage. So just trying to get
through the first parts of the race without copying it here or giving someone a serving
as well, because ultimately that would just you're just going to bleed lap time throughout the day.
So yeah, just staying clear of trouble is probably the big thing. I think it'll be
pretty chaotic. Obviously there's a lot of co-drivers always differing levels of experience,
some veterans, some rookies. And everyone's going to be having a go over, especially
those guys that are on the bubble there for the final trying to make it in. So
yeah, just avoiding the trouble is probably the big thing. And in addition to that,
you know, some chat around rule tweaks for safety car speed zones and so on. I guess that's probably
been a part of a pre-brief conversations with WAU. And do you think fans can expect some,
you know, some good action there? Yeah, yeah, it'll be interesting. Like I'm still
still getting my head across it, obviously working out what the tricks are going to be as we
always are in our sport. But, you know, things like this always make it exciting. It
creates opportunity, creates the chance to do something different and really, you know,
really shake things up. Good on you. I can remember interviewing you many years back.
How tough has the road been for you until, say, the past year, Jayden? And do you feel like you're
kind of finally where you should be now? Yeah, for sure. You know, I think no one's really
ever got an orthodox pathway. But for sure, mine's been done a little bit differently. And
but I wouldn't change it or have it any other way. Ultimately, everything that I've learned.
And I guess the driver I am today is because of all the challenges I've sort of faced and
obstacles I've had to overcome throughout the way. But ultimately, it's been it's been cool.
You know, I've learned a lot. I've matured a lot as a person as well, which I think, you know,
really helped me as of late, you know, deal with challenges and, you know, really deal with
adversity, which is something I guess that's quite quite common in our sport. And at any level,
you're going to you're going to deal with it. So if you if you miss out on it, I guess when
in the younger years of life, you maybe struggle a little bit more coming on later.
So I feel like I'm really prepared for like what's next to come in my career.
You should be really proud, mate, not just in terms of recent results, but the way that you
were just articulated what you did. The win is the dream. What will kind of be the minimum that
you'd like to walk away from the 500 with? Don't know. It's probably look, ultimately,
I want to get Woody into the finals. That's obviously a big objective of him and the team.
So to play my role in achieving that would be would be awesome. But, you know, personally,
I just want to I just want to walk away and feel like I've done my my part and my job and
and feel like I've upheld my end of the deal as such. I'm sure you will.
Been great to get you on and tell a little bit of your story today. Have a fantastic weekend
there in Adelaide. Awesome. Thanks, mate. Woody and the juice, they are worth a follow this
weekend, a combo that could really surprise perhaps more than the odds suggests. Hope the
500 is a cracking race for supercars. Enjoy it, everybody. We will catch you next week.
Bye for now.
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About this episode
Jaden Ojeda, a rising star in supercar racing, joins Rusty to discuss his recent successes and coaching experiences. Known as 'The Juice', Ojeda reflects on his first sprint win with Paul Lucitti and his role in mentoring younger drivers. The conversation also touches on his journey with Mercedes AMG, the challenges of endurance racing, and his aspirations for future events like the Spa 24. With insights into the upcoming Ben 500, Ojeda shares his focus on teamwork and strategy as he navigates the competitive landscape of motorsport.
Jayden joins the pod for the first time beaming in from Adelaide after a win in GT World Challenge Australia last weekend.
He stayed on in South Oz ahead of this weekend’s Bend 500, the first of the Supercars enduros. We preview the big race which marks Ojeda’s return to Walkinshaw Andretti United. What it’s like working alongside another rising star in Ryan Wood and the training item Woody forgot to bring!
How Jayden’s role as a Mercedes AMG junior came about and his determination to build on that program.
And how the hard road to get here has shaped Ojeda for a place in the sport that now feels more certain. Plus a 155k bike ride he’ll do in November and why he passionately supports it. https://dementiaresearchcommunity.com/ Head to Rusty's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and give us your feedback and let us know who you want to hear from on Rusty's Garage