Triple Eight masterminds' keen interest in Bates

Reigning Dunlop Super2 Series champion Zach Bates has lapped up the opportunity to jump behind the wheel of Triple Eight's wildcard Camaro ahead of his Repco Supercars Championship debut at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440.

The 21-year-old completed a wildcard test at Queensland Raceway yesterday, and was joined by a PremiAir Racing Camaro as they completed an evaluation day for three rising stars, including Super2 race winner Nash Morris.

Despite an excursion through the gravel at Turn 6, the day ran largely without incident for the Canberran, with the day spent getting the second generation driver comfortable in Gen3 machinery.

“It’s been a big day. First one of the season, which is so exciting," said Bates.

"The Supercheap Auto rocket was great. We worked through our processes today, aiming to get me comfy, and it all ended up really good.

"So, we'll see a short turnaround to next week, but nonetheless, very, very excited.”

Also on hand were several key Red Bull Ampol Racing staff, including drivers Broc Feeney and Will Brown, engineers Martin Short and Andrew Edwards, as well as team principal Jamie Whincup.

A complete day of testing for Bates could prove handy for the sister Red Bull entries, with the near-total ban of in-season testing restricting most teams from running at Ipswich prior to the Repco Sprint Cup finale.

"I am very fortunate to be able to come and test at the track I’ll be racing at within such a short period of time as well. It was good to have both Andrew and Marty here as well to crunch through the data with.

Bates, who will complete double duties alongside his Super2 commitments with Eggleston Motorsport, said that the two tyre compounds used in the Repco Supercars Championship will take some getting used to.

With the Dunlop Hard tyre the sole compound used in the development series, the Canberran said that having to figure out two different tyre compounds in short order will be his biggest challenge. "I am always impressed with how great the team did today, but for me personally, the biggest learning comes in getting on top of these tyre compounds.

"We're using the Soft and Super Soft in the main game, and then in Super2, we use the Hard tyre. So it was very interesting to see what these tyres can do, but at the same time, learn how to maximise them both.

"We have a little bit of a break now, so we'll go debrief and see what we can improve on."

Bates' solo run will be handy miles before he teams up with seven-time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes in the Enduro Cup, in what will be the 51-year-old's final starts for Triple Eight.

Lowndes was also in attendance for the test day, and was highly encouraged by what he saw before he saddles up at The Bend and Bathurst.

“It’s been a great day. We were finally able to get Zach in the car and a full day of testing as well," said Lowndes.

"He's progressed very well today in the sense of just getting his head around the way the team operate the car and the number of changes that the team gave him to trial. His input and feedback was fantastic. “I think it's gonna be an exciting weekend at Queensland Raceway for Zach to have his solo weekend. It’s a fantastic chance for him to really just focus on himself and improve himself with the team.

"It also gives me a lot of confidence going into the enduros now, knowing and seeing what he's like and the way he reads the car. Zach is extremely precise about what he wants, and it gives me a lot of confidence going forward.”

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440 from August 8-10. Tickets are on sale now.