Overview
- Bates clinched pole for the 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000 by winning the Top 10 Shootout with a 2:04.2062 lap that put him ahead of Brodie Kostecki.
- He set the fastest provisional Gen3-era lap on Friday with a 2:03.9376, the first sub-2:04 time in the current Supercars specification.
- The 22-year-old rookie dedicated his performance to his late mother Alison Drower and became the first rookie since 2001 to start Bathurst from pole.
- Reporting says Bates’ two-year deal with Matt Stone Racing includes a funding requirement that is the subject of ongoing discussions while team boss Matt Stone publicly described next year as 'status quo.'
- Bates’s pace raises expectations for Sunday’s race and could affect off-season driver moves because strong qualifying form often draws sponsor interest and reshapes seat negotiations.