Jamie Whincup staggered by Zach Bates Bathurst pole
Whincup personally pushed for youngster to get wildcard drive
Matt Stone Racing rookie Bates claimed shock Shootout pole
Jamie Whincup may be heading a rival team, but even he was cheering for rookie Zach Bates as the Matt Stone Racing driver surged to Bathurst pole.
Bates, all of 22 years of age, powered to a remarkable pole in Saturday's Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout.
The record books were writ large for Brodie Kostecki to claim an historic fourth straight Bathurst 1000 pole. Bates had none of it, converting provisional pole to race pole.
For Whincup, who himself claimed pole for the Great Race in 2013 and 2016, it was a moment to savour, having brought Bates into the main game via the Triple Eight wildcard.
Bates raced the Supercheap Auto-backed Triple Eight wildcard last year, having burst onto the scene with the 2024 DUNLOP Super2 Series crown with Walkinshaw Andretti United.
Whincup liked what he saw in the youngster, and Bates delivered, claiming a shock Shootout berth on debut, before finishing 10th in Bathurst with Craig Lowndes — despite running off the road twice at Murray's Corner.
“To be honest, I was cheering for him at the end,” Whincup told Supercars.com.
“We picked up Batesy and pushed hard for him in our wildcard last year.
“I can’t believe it, crazy how fast it's gone. We're fans of Batesy. I was rapt to see the kid get a full-time gig this year.
“And then to do that on the big stage, couldn't be happier for him.”
Remarkably, the Bates and Seton names will share No. 1 on the Great Race grid. Aaron Seton, son of two-time series champion Glenn, and grandson of 1965 winner Barry, will share the #10 Bendix Camaro with Bates.
Glenn last started the Bathurst 1000 from pole position in 1996. In 2000, Zach’s uncle Neal Bates started the race from pole position in a Seton-run Ford Falcon AU with Wayne Gardner.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a week. I can’t believe it,” Bates added.
“Aaron and I have been working super hard to try and get the car nice and speedy.
“To be able to tick off a pole and let alone a pole here is pretty cool.”
Sunday's race commences at 11:30am AEDT.
