Bates ready for ‘insane’ Shootout berth
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 10 August 2025
For the second year in a row, the Supercheap Auto wildcard driver has stunned with a Top 10 Shootout berth, and this time it is Zach Bates impressing behind the wheel.
Last year Cooper Murray pushed the #888 into the one-lap dash at Hidden Valley and history has repeated in impressive fashion.
In just his third qualifying session, Bates not only secured a ticket to the Top 10 Shootout, but flew to third with only Anton De Pasquale and Broc Feeney exceeding his 1:08.2658.
For it to come on not just his debut round, but also on a weekend where he is doing double duties in Super2 in the totally different ZB Commodore.
Bates cannot believe he will be in the one-lap dash with his famous rallying family in the garage and his mother proudly watching on from home.
“It is insane,” Bates said.
“We knew the car could do it so it was just about me sorting myself out.
“The Supercheap Auto and Triple Eight crew have done a fantastic job and great to reward them.
“It is great to be in the Shootout.
“My family has put in so much sacrifice to get here and my sponsors so it is great to have them here.
“My beautiful mum is at home, she is going through a tough time, but she is going good.”
Across a weekend where some have been caught out in the first Queensland Raceway round since 2019, Bates has impressed.
He has stayed out of trouble and quietly compiled a strong string of results.
In the opening race he progressed from 21st to 16th, while in the following sprint he started from a strong 13thon the grid.
Bates sat as high as ninth and could have been on course for a top 10, but dropped to 17th as he struggled to manage the unfamiliar Super Soft tyre.
Reflecting on his first race day in Supercars, Bates said he was simply pleased to finish.
“That’s probably one of the bigger days I’ve had in a car, on a track, but it was actually really good,” he said.
“I feel a lot better than I thought I would. The team has done a fantastic job with everything, the car, managing everything, the garage, really fast stops and all those things. So grateful they’ve got my back this weekend.
“Super stoked to get two full races done, and that last one was pretty chaotic.
“The start was pretty close, we were in the middle there and it got dicey. I’ve learned a lot today about being in that field for a race, where to put the car and how to move around.
“So my expectations probably don’t change it’s just all about getting a solid run in. On Friday we were in the top ten so that’s got to be the goal now. It’s just me getting up to speed.”
Bates is about to be part of the Top 10 Shootout, which starts at 11.40 AEST.
Image: DMAC PHotography
2025 Ipswich Super440 (All Times AEST)
Friday 8 August
Practice 1 – 1: Broc Feeney 1:09.2078 2: Anton De Pasquale +0.1965 3: Cameron Hill +0.2271
Practice 2 – 1: Will Brown 1:08.4927 2: Broc Feeney +0.1419 3: Ryan Wood +0.2088
Saturday 9 August
Qualifying Race 23: 1 Broc Feeney 1:08.1301 2 Will Brown +0.1119 3 Ryan Wood +0.1866
Qualifying Race 24: 1 Broc Feeney 1:19.8014 2 Ryan Wood +0.4782 3 Will Brown +0.9097
Race 23 – 39 laps 1 Broc Feeney 2 Kai Allen +0.4739 3 Ryan Wood +1.1230
Race 24 – 39 laps 1 Will Brown 49:05.3349 2 Broc Feeney +0.8842 3 Ryan Wood +9.8118
Sunday 10 August
10:20am, Qualifying Part 1 – Race 25 (10 mins)
10:40am, Qualifying Part 2 – Race 25 (10 mins)
11:40am, Qualifying Part 3 – Race 25 Top Ten Shootout (30 mins)
3:15pm, Race 25 – 63 laps (200 km)
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