Supercars champion's helping hand for Super2 champ's big break

Zach Bates' main game Supercars promotion alongside Craig Lowndes in Triple Eight's enduro wildcard for 2025 came with a glowing endorsement from 2024 Repco Supercars Champion Will Brown.

The current champions of both tiers of Supercars competition, the pair have had a connection back to Bates' Toyota 86 days in 2021 and 2022.

Brown was a sponsor of the then-teenager from Canberra during an ultra-successful stint in the proven driver development category, remaining the most winningest driver in the category's history.

Bates' performances caught the eye of Walkinshaw Andretti United, where he was outperformed by standout rookie Ryan Wood in the 2023 Super2 Series.

The Kiwi was then promoted to be Chaz Mostert's teammate in the Repco Supercars Championship this season, with Bates becoming the Super2 team leader with fellow Toyota 86 graduate Campbell Logan as teammate.

The 20-year-old stepped up to the task in 2024, winning three rounds on his way to winning Walkinshaw's first title in any category since 2009, and withstood serious pressure across the Adelaide weekend.

Speaking to the press in Adelaide, Brown revealed that he pressed Red Bull Ampol Racing team principal Jamie Whincup into pursuing the services of Bates for the wildcard seat.

“I pushed quite hard this year to get him into that wildcard drive,” said the Supercars champion.

“I asked Jamie if they’d consider him, and I think he was already on their list pretty early. They caught up and ended up getting it done."

Bates will become the third Super2 champion to pilot the Triple Eight wildcard since it's first event in 2021, with the Canberran joining Broc Feeney and Declan Fraser in that exclusive club.

Speaking on Friday before both Super2 races were held, Brown was impressed with Bates' level-headed performance in both Boost Mobile Qualifying sessions.

“He’s done a fantastic job. This weekend even with the high pressure, he’s qualified first and second, which is really cool," Brown said.

“This weekend in Super2 is going to be tight. I think the top three in the championship are tight and they’ve all qualified top three in both races, so it’s going to be very interesting to watch.

“I’m just interested to see how he goes.”

Brown was on hand for the post-race celebrations for Bates on Sunday, as was fellow WAU Academy graduate Ryan Wood, and several key WAU staff including Ryan Walkinshaw, Bruce Stewart, and Carl Faux.

Bates could yet be back to defend his Super2 title this year, having been linked with Eggleston Motorsport for 2025, with 2023 Super2 champion Kai Allen on the move to Grove Racing full-time next season.