Zach Bates

But, you know, there was only ever two or three teams each year that were going to be contenders.

Whereas now, everyone's like, look at Zach Bates at Bathurst.

Premier on the weekend, Coop Murray on the podium.

BRT have had podiums as well and pole positions.

Yeah, look, the main game was promising.

Obviously, another shootout for Zach and, you know, JLB.

I feel like we had that good qualifying pace.

We just didn't quite put it together with some changes in set-up and testing a few things getting ready for next year.

They took pole at Bathurst and then they made the finals.

So if you're Matt Stone Racing, absolutely, you're having a dip.

Yeah, well, Zach Bates was quick this weekend too.

Like, I like where that team's going.

Let's finish up with some really good news, I think.

Zach Bates has secured his future on the supercars grid with Matt Stone Racing for next year.

There were some question marks around, given the fact that he effectively has been in a position where he's had to bring funding to have that drive.

Whether he was going to be able to continue that next year, we've seen what feels like maybe a bit of an uplift in the investment from Bendix, which is the primary sponsor on that car.

That's interesting as well because globally there's been some issues for that company.

It's gone into administration here, but our understanding is that that will be... resolved with a change of ownership of the business and this is a pretty good sign that that is the case the fact that they're investing longer term in MSR in Zach Bates but the important thing is that he's obviously a wonderful talent we saw when he had the right car under him at Bathurst like what he could actually do it's just a good news story that this this young guy is security spot on the grid for hopefully next season and beyond

Yeah, and we were talking at Bathurst about the fact that this was going to end up in the right place.

There was a discussion going on between the Bates camp and MSR around funding.

We got fourth and fifth in the championship in our first year of Super 2 and probably the best of the rest as well.

We had Kai, Zach Bates and Aaron Cameron in front of us, I think, At that point, we were sitting fourth and fifth, and I think we actually won the team championship as well that year as well.

So we've worked really well together.

We sort of go back to bat, bat for bat, and use each other to go a little bit faster.

Yeah, we were above Matt Stone Racing's box.

Yeah, Zach Bates.

Zach Bates.

So it was really cool to watch them doing – like they'd pull – I did a really cool video.

Yeah.

for the title and he's got even more to do now starting down there you think he'd be praying for rain but even then that's a long way back in the pack at a circuit like this where you're just at so much risk of getting caught up in someone else's mistake even if you don't make one on your own

Yeah, obviously it's been a little bit of a comeback for Matt Stone Racing, Zach Bates there in 13th after the heroics at Bathurst, but still pretty respectable, especially for Zach's first time on his track.

So if it wasn't for what happened at Bathurst, we'd be saying, great job, Zach Bates.

But just going back to Jack LeBrock, obviously the headline of his session was him being impeded by Will Brown heading into the final corner.

It was one of those ones where Will had a...

when they're having their cool-down lap after their hot laps, say at Bathurst.

Like, the crowd was up and about for Zach Bates at the end once he drove past everyone there after he did his hot lap.

I kind of like that.

The traditionalists in me kind of like that.

Robert Jamison, my friend, has the next question.

How many drivers from the ACT, Mark, have got pole position?

I'm going to guess that Zach Bates has a pole position.

I think that's a pretty good guess.

He's out of contention and he's done.

And then it was between, you know, Zach Bates and Anton DePasquale and, and, And then Bathurst, safety car with, you know, whatever laps to go, bunched the field up.

And as soon as that bunched up, you just felt like Brodie was a chance again.

And he drove unbelievable.

There are two names that stand out to me.

Brodie Kostecki, that last stint was just phenomenal.

Zach Bates, a groundbreaking weekend for Zach Bates.

He's still so young, 22 years of age.