Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU) has today announced that Zach Bates will drive for the Team in the 2023 Dunlop Super2 Series.
Bates, a 18-year-old who hails from Canberra, joins the team to make his Dunlop Super2 Debut in 2023 in one of two WAU entries, as the Team returns to Super2 for the first time in over a decade.
"I'm really excited to be joining Walkinshaw Andretti United for the 2023 Super2 season, to join a team with so much experience is super cool, it is a big step for me, but there will be no shortage of people to learn off so I’m really excited to get underway.”
Bates joins the Team fresh off a second-place finish in the 2022 Toyota 86 Australian Championship, while also leading the points in 2021, despite it not being classed as a championship due to COVID-19. From his 28 race starts, he has achieved 16 wins and 23 podiums across the two seasons. He was also won the New South Wales Formula Ford State Championship in 2021 and claimed a podium on debut in the Trans Am Series in 2022.
2023 marks Walkinshaw Andretti United’s return to the Dunlop Super2 Series for the first time since 2012, which was under the Walkinshaw Racing banner with Nick Percat driving.
Leading the WAU Super2 Programme will be Team Manager, Rob Starr, while Warren Luff will be Driver Development Advisor, working closely with Zach and his yet-to-be-announced teammate, as they take on the six-round championship.
“We are so excited to have Zach Bates join us in our Super2 programme for 2023, he is such an impressive young man in every aspect,” said Bruce Stewart, Walkinshaw Andretti United Team Principal.
“Returning to the Dunlop Super2 Championship has been a big focus of ours, but only with the right people involved. It’s a really important pathway for not only Zach and other drivers, but staff as well, from mechanics, engineers, it creates a pathway for a variety of different roles within our sport, so we are rapt to be competing, and to have Zach representing us.
“Importantly, we have some incredibly talented people involved, with Rob Starr leading the programme, with over 32 years of experience in our team, as well as Luffy there to help guide and nurture the young drivers with everything they have to deal with across the season… who better to learn from.
“We are really excited to see Zach develop in 2023, I’m sure his talent will become clear to all pretty quickly.”
Bates will get behind the wheel of a Walkinshaw Andretti United prepared Super2 vehicle early next year, before his debut at the Newcastle 500 on March 10 – 12.
“I can’t wait to get the season underway, it’s amazing already to be learning off some of the best in the business, and the entire Walkinshaw Andretti United team couldn’t have been more welcoming,” said Bates.
Bates’ teammate, as well as livery and partners will be announced in due course.