Bates aiming for Super2 silverware send-off with WAU

Dunlop Super2 Series leader Zach Bates is looking to hand Walkinshaw Andretti United a parting gift ahead of his final development series start with the team at the VAILO Adelaide 500.

Having capitalised on Kai Allen's misfortune to jump into the points lead on Saturday at the Repco Bathurst 1000, the 20-year-old has a 39-point buffer over Aaron Cameron, with Allen 42 behind.

It has been an up-and-down year for the sophomore driver, who was penalised in the second race of the year at the Bathurst 500 after putting Cooper Murray into the wall at The Cutting.

However, since then the #25 ZB Commodore has only finished outside the top five once, after being an innocent bystander in the lap one chaos in Race 5 at Townsville.

Bates claimed his first race and round win in Perth, and also won the Sandown round, and remains the only driver to win multiple rounds this season.

"Who would've thought after the start of the year?" Bates told Supercars.com.

"We had a little bit of mishap there at Bathurst that dropped us down the points a fair way, but to claw our way back the team has done a great job at Walkinshaw Andretti United to claw the deficit back.

"Obviously there's been some misfortune for the others, but that's Super2 racing at the end of the day, so it's going to be an exciting finale."

With Allen having won four of the 10 races held this year, and Cameron a dominant pole and race winner last time out at Bathurst, Bates knows that it will be a tough street fight for the 2024 Super2 title.

"We haven't got a huge buffer, so it's all up for grabs," said the Canberran.

Adelaide has been a happy hunting ground for both WAU and Bates, with former teammate Ryan Wood winning both races last year, and Bates finishing third in the finale on Sunday.

Last year was Bates' first visit to the Adelaide Parklands Circuit for any racing category, and his results last year have left him confident that the Shaw Wines Commodore can be right at the pointy end again..

"I've only been to Adelaide once last year, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. It's always nice to have one of those weekends where you roll the car out and you haven't got to change too much.

"It was quick in both the wet and dry, so let's hope it's the same because it's probably one of my favourite events, it's got a great atmosphere and I really enjoy the layout where it's obviously a street circuit but I'd probably call it more of a hybrid.

"There's places where there's some runoff and places like Turn 8 which is a huge commitment corner so I love the place."

Last week Bates was confirmed as the latest young gun to partner Craig Lowndes in Triple Eight's wildcard Camaro at next year's enduros, steering the #888 at The Bend 500 and the Repco Bathurst 1000 and likely a solo round in next year's Sprint Cup.

Having released the news, Bates is now solely focused on securing the Walkinshaw Group's first championship of any kind since the Holden Racing Team won the Supercars Teams Championship in 2009 with Garth Tander and Will Davison.

"It was definitely good to get the news out, because you don't want to be distracted by anything," he said.

"It was great to get that news out for all the people who have supported me to get to this point, and I wouldn't be able to do that without some key people.

"I'm extremely excited to head over to Triple Eight and do some wildcards with Craig, so I've got plenty to learn, I'll be a huge sponge.

"It's a very cool thing to have a guy like that mentoring you."

Having been brought into the WAU Academy as the most successful driver in Toyota GR Cup history for 2023, Bates was overshadowed by the blistering speed of Wood in 2023.

Whilst the Kiwi has gone on to an impressive debut season in the Repco Supercars Championship, Bates has become the spearhead of the outfit's Super2 program, and wants nothing more than to hand the squad a Super2 title win.

The second generation racer also hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning to WAU in the future,

"It would be amazing to end it like that, because they have done such a great job to be honest, the reason I'm in the position of leading is because how good a job they've done.

"Obviously heading out and going to Triple Eight is extremely exciting as well, but I'd like to think the book isn't finished with Walkinshaw for the future.

"Who knows? There's been some funny things happen in this sport, but who knows what the future holds?"

On track action for the Dunlop Series at the VAILO Adelaide 500 begins on Thursday with two practice sessions. Tickets for the event are on sale now.