Zach Bates qualifies on pole for Sunday’s Bathurst 1000, topping the time sheets during the Top 10 Shootout at Mount Panorama.
Multiple outlets report that Bates’ performance comes as a major breakthrough for the Supercars rookie, with coverage describing it as an unexpected qualifying outcome. The reports say he maintains momentum by delivering strong results across qualifying, including “second day in a row” success leading into pole position. ABC, Brisbane Times, The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald all agree that he wins the Top 10 Shootout to secure the front starting position.
While some headlines frame the moment as Bates joining “Supercars royalty” and claiming his maiden pole, the core account is consistent: he tops the Shootout, earns pole for the Bathurst 1000, and will start the race from the front—an outcome presented as rare for a rookie.
