PODCAST: Bates fills last 2026 Supercars seat
Zach gets the nod for MSR, as the title battle is set to be cut from seven contenders to four at Sandown this weekend
Young gun Zach Bates has been confirmed at Matt Stone Racing for the 2026 season. The son of rally ace Rick, Zach impressed at The Bend 500 and Bathurst 1000 as Craig Lowndes’ co-driver in the Triple Eight-prepared, Supercheap Auto-sponsored wild card.
The Bates signing all but locks away the Supercars full-time grid for next season, with the only non-confirmed seat being the number two driver in the Blanchard Racing Team Mustang, though it is widely believed that incumbent Aaron Cameron will retain this drive.
With the 2026 full-time grid sorted, attention has turned to endurance drivers, with teams scurrying to lock away their co-drivers for The Bend 500 and Bathurst 1000. It’s all covered in the latest episode of the popular podcast Race for the Championship, along with a full preview of this weekend’s first-ever Semi-Finals at Sandown Raceway, where seven 2025-title contenders will be whittled down to four.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Matt Stone Racing and stepping up to the Supercars Championship full-time next year,” Zach said.
“This is a dream come true. MSR has a great track record with young drivers…
“I can’t wait to get stuck in and learn as much as I can from the team.”
Team owner Matt Stone said Bates’ signing reflects MSR’s ongoing commitment to fostering future Supercars stars.
“He’s shown maturity, speed and a great attitude – everything we look for in a driver. We’re excited to give him his shot in the Bendix Racing Camaro and continue developing the next generation of Supercars drivers,” Stone said
Bates will now be the teammate of Jack Le Brocq, who will also return to race a Matt Stone Racing Chevrolet Camaro in 2026.
Walkinshaw Andretti United has announced that Jaxon Evans will join the team as a co-driver for the 2026 endurance season and beyond, partnering with Ryan Wood.
After two years as a full-time driver in the Supercars Championship with Brad Jones Racing, Evans will team up with fellow Kiwi, Wood, in the Mobil 1 Truck Assist Racing No. 2 Toyota GR Supra entry.
Fabian Coulthard will also return to WAU for his fifth consecutive season as a co-driver, continuing his partnership with Chaz Mostert for the 2026 endurance campaign.
PremiAir Racing has also locked away its co-drivers, confirming David Russell and Nash Morris will continue on with the team as its endurance season drivers for the 2026 Supercars season.
Russell will mark his third consecutive year with PremiAir Racing by partnering with Jayden Ojeda for The Bend 500, and the Bathurst 1000 next year, while Morris will team up with Declan Fraser for his second year as a PremiAir co-driver.
Russell is an indisputable endurance specialist. He has been a part of both of PremiAir Racing’s podiums to date – third at the 2024 Sandown 500 and third at the 2025 Bathurst 1000, both while partnering James Golding.
The 2025 result at Mount Panorama marked the third time he had stood on the Great Race podium.
Nash Morris partnered with Richie Stanaway for the 2025 endurance season in what was his first main-game experience.
The 23-year-old is a former Super3 Series Champion and is currently third on the 2025 Super2 Championship standings.
Meanwhile, James Courtney has done a backflip on his earlier decision to go cold turkey and leave Supercars all together after retiring from his drive with Blanchard Racing Team at the end of this season.
Courtney will renew his relationship with Charlie Schwerkolt and Adrian Burgess at Team 18 where he has been announced as co-driver to Anton De Pasquale.
Courtney won the 2010 Championship at Dick Johnson Racing alongside Schwerkolt and Burgess.
Courtney said the backflip on his earlier decision to retire completely from the sport came at the last round of the Championship on the Gold Coast.
“It’s been 20 years doing this full-time… to change direction after that is a big shift,” he said.
“I talked a big game initially, saying I’d just mic-drop it and disappear, but realistically, there’s no way I could do that. I love what I do too much.”
Grove Racing has announced that it will part ways with long-time endurance driver Dale Wood. While yet to confirm a replacement, it has been rumoured that former MSR co-driver, Tim Slade will soon join the team.
It could, in fact, be a double change at Grove Racing with reigning Bathurst co-driver champion Garth Tander believed to be leaving the team to concentrate on his TV commentary role.
