Brief

Rookie Zach Bates clinches Bathurst 1000 pole after dramatic shootout

The 22‑year‑old set a 0.285‑second fastest lap to claim pole, ending Kostecki's bid for a fourth successive pole.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 10 Oct 2026 15:10:23 GMT

On October 10, 2026, 22‑year‑old rookie Zach Bates secured pole position for the Bathurst 1000 after winning the Top 10 Shootout at Mount Panorama, according to SMH.

What happened

The Shootout featured the ten fastest qualifiers from Friday. Brodie Kostecki led most of the session, posting a lap 0.4942 seconds quicker than the next driver. Cooper Murray and Anton De Pasquale followed, each within a tenth of a second of Kostecki. Bates, who had set the provisional pole on Friday, ran the final lap and beat Kostecki by 0.2850 seconds, earning the pole.

What the reports add

SMH notes that Bates is only the third rookie ever to start the Great Race from pole and the first since Marcos Ambrose in 2001. The outlet also records that Kostecki was attempting to become the first driver to claim four successive Bathurst poles, a feat only legends Peter Brock and Allan Moffat have matched with three straight poles.

What was said

"It would’ve been cool, but I’d rather have my name engraved on the [Peter Brock] trophy," Kostecki said of his missed fourth pole.

How it came about

Bates' pole follows his fastest qualifying time on Friday and a tribute he paid to his late mother and motorsport presenter Alison Drower after that session.

Key facts

Zach Bates secured pole position for the Bathurst 1000 after winning the Top 10 Shootout. (smh.com.au)
Bates beat Brodie Kostecki by 0.2850 seconds in the final shootout lap. (smh.com.au)
He becomes the first rookie since Marcos Ambrose in 2001 to start the race from pole. (smh.com.au)
Kostecki was aiming for a fourth successive Bathurst pole, a record only Peter Brock and Allan Moffat have approached with three. (smh.com.au)