What a week at Mount Panorama!
Matt Stone Racing delivered one of the best performances in the team’s history at the 2026 Bathurst 1000, taking home a stunning third and fourth-place finish, claiming pole position, breaking the Gen3 lap record and becoming the only team to place both cars inside the top five. From Pit Stop Challenge finalists to a double appearance in the Top Ten Shootout, MSR was on the pace from the outset, capping off a massive weekend with two outstanding results in the Great Race and a place in the history books.
The results delivered were the product of a team firing on all cylinders. From flawless pit stops and strategic execution on race day itself to the preparation and countless hours of hard work behind the scenes at the workshop, every part of the operation came together when it mattered most. The energy in the garage was electric all weekend, with the entire crew delivering under pressure on one of the biggest stages in Australian motorsport. We’ve always believed we had the capability to take the fight to the established front-runners, and Bathurst was a statement of what this team can achieve when everything clicks. These results are a true testament to the work we’ve put in all year, both trackside and back at base.
Zach Bates and the No.10 Bendix Racing Camaro stole the headlines, with the rookie delivering a performance to remember at Mount Panorama. After claiming provisional pole position and breaking the Gen3 lap record on Friday, Zach went one better to secure the outright Bathurst 1000 pole position on Saturday, becoming the first rookie to achieve the feat since Marcos Ambrose in a Stone Brothers Racing entry back in 2001. It was a landmark moment for Zach and the entire MSR crew, and he backed it up on Sunday with a world-class drive to the podium alongside co-driver Aaron Seton. Third place in the Great Race was a fitting reward for an exceptional weekend, with Zach securing sixth in the Enduro Cup standings after a breakthrough performance.
Jack Le Brocq and the No.4 Sherrin Rentals Camaro were equally impressive, qualifying fifth and securing a place in the Top Ten Shootout before delivering a strong fourth-place finish in the race alongside co-driver Harri Jones. The Sherrin Rentals crew executed a clean, consistent weekend, keeping themselves firmly in contention throughout the 1000 kilometres and bringing home a crucial result. Fourth place in the Enduro Cup standings caps off a strong enduro campaign for Jack, who has also secured himself and the MSR team a highly-coveted Finals spot after remaining in or near the Top 10 all year. With the No.4 firmly in the hunt and the team carrying serious momentum into the final stretch of the season, the result was another important step forward for MSR.
A huge shoutout also goes to our co-drivers, Harri Jones and Aaron Seton, who both opened the race and executed their stints flawlessly. Their performances laid the foundations for both cars to fight at the front and played a crucial role in delivering a standout result for the team.
Our attention now turns firmly towards the Gold Coast and the opportunity to progress further into the Finals with Jack and the Sherrin Rentals entry.
QUOTES
Matt Stone, Team Owner, Matt Stone Racing:
“What a weekend for this team. To come away from Bathurst with a pole position, a podium and fourth place, and to be the only team with both cars inside the top five, is an incredible result for everyone involved. We’ve put a huge amount of work into this program, and to see that translate into results like this is a credit to every single person in the team, from the guys and girls in the workshop through to the crew on the ground at the track. A massive thank you to Bendix and Sherrin Rentals for their continued support and belief in what we’re building here at MSR. We’ve shown what we’re capable of this weekend, and we’re heading home to the Gold Coast 500 with plenty of confidence and momentum behind us, ready to throw everything we have at getting JLB through to the next Finals round”
Zach Bates, Driver, No.10 Bendix Racing Camaro:
“I don’t really have the words to express this weekend, it’s totally surreal. It’s beyond special to be able to say we’ve taken pole position at Bathurst and backed it up with a podium in the race. To break the Gen3 lap record and become the first rookie to take pole here since 2001 is something I’m incredibly proud of, and to come away with a result like this is a credit to the whole team and the thousands of hours they’ve put in all year. The guys gave us an incredible car all weekend, the pit stops were spot on, and Aaron did an awesome job to put us in a strong position early in the race. It’s a massive result for everyone at MSR and Bendix Racing, and hopefully we can carry this momentum into the Gold Coast 500.”
Jack Le Brocq, Driver, No.4 Sherrin Rentals Camaro:
“It’s been a huge weekend for the team, and to come away with both cars inside the top four at Bathurst is an incredible result. We had great pace from the start, qualified inside the top five and executed a really clean race, with Harri doing a fantastic job in his stint to put us in a strong position. Everyone across the team has been working incredibly hard to get us to this point, and it’s great to see that effort paying off when it matters most. We’ve been in or near the Top 10 all year, so to finally secure our place in the Finals as well makes it an even better weekend. I’m really looking forward to heading to the Gold Coast with so much positive momentum behind us.”
