Bayley Hall to make Supercars debut in Ipswich
23-year-old Queenslander to drive Team 18 wildcard
Young gun impressed co-driver Craig Lowndes at recent test
It wasn't all that long ago that a young Bayley Hall was just a kid on the hill at Queensland Raceway, watching his Supercars heroes and aspiring to be just like them one day.
At just 23 years old, that day will come on Friday, and at the venue where it all started. What's more, one of those heroes, Craig Lowndes, will be in his corner, teaming up with Hall for the Ryco Enduro Cup races.
Hall comes to Supercars with a strong record in Porsche Carrera Cup at home and abroad, with his GT racing exploits taking him to Bathurst, Spa, and the Chinese GT Championship this year, as well as scoring him an LMP2 test at Silverstone.
But despite racking up the frequent flyer points, Supercars is where the Gold Coaster's heart lies, having plied his trade in Super2 with Eggleston Motorsport and renowned Team 18 engineer Richard Hollway.
He enters a Supercheap Auto wildcard program that has propelled Broc Feeney, Declan Fraser, Cooper Murray, and Zach Bates all into full-time drives, albeit at the program's previous home in Triple Eight.
Hall knows that the task he has ahead of him at Queensland Raceway will be one of, if not the toughest of his burgeoning career.
“It’s certainly a baptism of fire being a rookie to Supercars this year with only one test day and one solo event to show what you’re capable of, but I’ve done enough work whilst driving other cars to learn the trait of adaptability,” said Hall.
“QR is the first track I ever watched a Supercars race, the first track I ever drove a car on, and now my first track to debut in Supercars. It’s a special home advantage that I’m looking forward to. I know there will be a sea of red and yellow supporters cheering me on, friends, family and everyone else.
“I’m grateful to have such an experienced team around me and that’s a credit to Charlie [Schwerkolt] and his operation. Everyone has the same passion for competition and the work ethic to achieve great results."
The standout rookie of the 2026 Super2 season got a full day of running under his belt at The Bend following Perth, however his day was hampered by a persistent electrical gremlin.
Regardless, Hall impressed seven-time Bathurst winner Lowndes with his speed and adaptability in the trying circumstances.
Added Hall: “The testing wasn’t as smooth as what we’d all hoped, but that’s motorsport. I’m glad I had a hard-working team who got stuck into it and fixed the car giving me a chance to connect with it. We head to QR confident there will be no more dramas.
“For me, it feels like a long time coming. Making my debut in Supercars is not just a childhood dream of mine but a vision I’ve had since day one. And that sense of achievement to work hard and earn my spot in the Supercheap Auto Racing wildcard is super rewarding.”
Hall will get his first taste of Supercars action on Friday at Queensland Raceway, as one of three wildcard entries. Tickets for the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440 are on sale now.
