Zach Bates claims Bathurst 1000 pole in stunning shootout
The 22-year-old Matt Stone Racing driver beat Brodie Kostecki's lap with a 2:04.206, ahead of his first ever Great Race.
Supercars rookie Zach Bates has won the Bathurst 1000 top-10 shootout, starting from provisional pole and delivering a lightning lap to edge out three-time defending shootout winner Brodie Kostecki. Bates flew through the first sector and topped all three sections of the Mount Panorama circuit, crossing the line in 2:04.206, better than Kostecki's 2:04.491.
Bates' mother Alison Drower died from cancer weeks before his Bathurst debut last year, when he finished 10th as a wildcard driver. Bates embraced his father Rick, a former rally driver and Supercars competitor, with an emotional hug after climbing out of the car.
He told Seven that losing his mother made this moment special, and he was fortunate to repay his family's hard work in getting him to the grid.
- 2:04.206
- Winning lap
- 22 years old
- Bates' age
- 2:04.491
- Kostecki's lap
- Canberra
- Place of origin
Why it mattersBathurst's top-10 shootout determines pole position for the iconic Great Race, one of motorsport's most watched events in Australia.
AustraliaBates becomes the first rookie to claim Bathurst pole in years, a major moment for Australian motorsport talent heading into the race.
Corroborated by7news.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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