Tickford debutant not shying away from 'huge opportunity'

Tickford rising star Ben Gomersall is a young man in a hurry, and knows that the chance to drive elite machinery on debut is one that a select few are ever handed.

It's been a rapid rise through the ranks for the 20-year-old, who only entered Hyundai Excels as a 14-year-old in 2020, and has progressed through Toyota 86s and into Super2.

Over the last two seasons, Gomersall has been entrenched in two of Supercars' powerhouse operations, having joined Tickford's Super2 operations this season after a rookie campaign with Triple Eight.

Winning Super2's rookie of the year title last year established Gomersall as a prospect to watch, a trend that has continued into 2026 with three podiums in six races this season.

Now comes the opportunity of a lifetime, and one that the Queenslander knows could be a foundation for bigger things to come if he impresses, as was the case 12 months ago for a former Super2 rival.

"This is definitely a huge opportunity, we saw what Zach Bates did there last year and how it helped him get into the main game this year," Gomersall told Supercars.com.

"All of the top guys started out in wildcards, Broc [Feeney] did it, Brodie [Kostecki] did it, and for me to have one with a team like Tickford, I feel incredibly lucky.

"Cam [Waters] and Thomas [Randle] have been awesome, and for them to be finding form as I jump in the wildcard is pretty exciting.

"It still feels pretty surreal to be honest, this is every young driver's dream, and for it to be just a few days away is still pretty crazy to me.

"I feel like having been with Triple Eight before and now Tickford, I've been with the two best teams in the country , and it's put me in a good place to be ready for this wildcard."

Gomersall is under no illusion to the task at hand, as he joins fellow Super2 driver Bayley Hall as a Supercars debutant this weekend. Aaron Seton returns at Matt Stone Racing as the weekend's third wildcard.

Team 18 driver Hall has admitted that his opening weekend will be a 'baptism of fire' given his day of testing at The Bend was hampered by a lingering electrical gremlin.

Gomersall, meanwhile, had no such issues when he tested at Queensland Raceway in June, but knows that despite best endeavours in preparation, his first session could be a huge wake up call.

"This weekend's just going to be a massive learning weekend. When you're up the front in Super2, you go into it thinking you're good enough to be at that level, but the reality is you're up against it," continued the 20-year-old.

"The championship is so competitive at the moment, and it's such a step up from Super2. We saw with Lochie [Dalton] and Reuben [Goodall] that they both started winning in Super2 after their wildcard step, it's almost like you learn more running last in Supercars than first in Super2.

"Hopefully it'll be the same for me and I can start winning when I get back in the Super2 car at Bathurst."

Queensland Raceway will be the first of a two-round Supercars program for Gomersall in 2026. He will return to the #5 Ford alongside Super2 teammate Campbell Logan for the AirTouch 500 at The Bend.

Gomersall admits that even having a chance to compete in Supercars is something that won't sink in until he's in the midst of battle: "I'm sure there'll be a moment when I'm on the grid that I'll stop and say to myself, 'Gee this is all pretty surreal.'

"This is where I've always wanted to be, and these are the guys who I've been looking up to my whole life, so to be alongside them already will be a really special moment, but I'm sure once I get off the line it'll be all business."

On-track action in Ipswich begins with two practice sessions on Friday.