Bates Sets Historic Pole at Bathurst 1000 Qualifying

Zach Bates Sets Gen3 Era Record

Zach Bates, a rookie driver from Matt Stone Racing, qualified fastest in the Gen3 era at the 2026 Bathurst 1000, posting a 2:03.937s lap. This makes him the first driver to break the 2:04 barrier in the new car era.

Bates, who entered the weekend 18th in points, dedicated his lap to his late mother, Alison Drower, who passed away from a rare form of cancer. His father Rick Bates was in tears as his son achieved this historic feat.

The qualifying session saw multiple drivers eliminated, with Broc Feeney and Ryan Wood among those who missed out on advancing to the top ten shootout. The shootout will determine the final pole position for Sunday’s race.

Top Ten Shootout Lineup

The top ten drivers from qualifying will compete in the Top Ten Shootout tomorrow to determine the final pole position. Brod Kostecki is the current leader, but Bates is the favorite to secure pole position.

Other notable drivers in the shootout include Jack Le Brocq, Will Brown, and David Reynolds. The shootout will take place tomorrow starting at 10am AEDT.