Lowndes endorses Bates for 2026 main game promotion
Craig Lowndes backs reigning Super2 champion Zach Bates for main game promotion
Lowndes to pair up with Bates in Triple Eight's wildcard in Enduro Cup
Bates currently sixth in 2025 Super2 standings
Seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes has thrown his support behind wildcard teammate Zach Bates to earn a promotion to the Repco Supercars Championship in 2026.
The reigning Dunlop Super2 Series champion, Bates was announced as Triple Eight's latest wildcard prospect in November last year, and will be Lowndes' final Triple Eight co-driver as the Hall of Famer remains with GM amidst the team's Ford return.
As a result, Bates himself has moved from Walkinshaw Andretti United to Eggleston Motorsport for the 2025 development series, and has had a mixed start to his title defence.
The 21-year-old battled illness in the opening round of the season at Sydney, and was turned around by teammate Elliott Cleary in the opening race in Tasmania.
However, he bounced back to claim his first Boost Mobile Pole Award of the season for the second race of the weekend, topping the first-ever Top Five Shootout in the process, eventually finishing second to Tickford's Nash Morris.
Bates sits sixth in the standings, 96 points off the series lead, however Lowndes is convinced that the second-generation racer has proven he belongs in the main game.
"Yeah, I think so. I think that he's established himself,” Lowndes told Supercars.com.
"He won Super2 last year. Like everything, it's always hard to back it up and he's doing a great job with a new team.
"I think he's in that right frame now, mentally and physically, to step up.
"I think that this wildcard opportunity will give him a great feel for where he is at, literally rubbing shoulders with everyone else.”
With three seats available at Brad Jones Racing for their switch to Toyota Supras in 2026, the long-running history of the Bates family with Toyota could see him well placed to end up in Albury next year.
Bates isn't the only Super2 talent who could feature in silly season, with current series leader Rylan Gray rumoured to be an option for several teams in the Supercars paddock.
Triple Eight's wildcard effort for 2025 will officially be unveiled this weekend on Sunday July 6 at a fan event at Supercheap Auto Everton Park between 7:00am and 12:00pm.
The 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series returns at the NTI Townsville 500 from July 11-13. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
