Matt Stone Racing is pleased to announce a multi-year extension of its naming rights partnership with Bendix, alongside a new multi-year agreement with rising star Zach Bates, securing the future of the No.10 Bendix Racing Camaro for seasons to come.
The dual announcement marks a significant commitment from all parties as they look to build on a promising 2026 campaign, which has seen Bates and Bendix Racing deliver a pole position, a podium finish and a new lap record at Mount Panorama, establishing the foundations for an exciting future together in the Supercars Championship.
Bates joined MSR for his rookie Supercars campaign in 2026 following a Super2 Championship victory in 2024, and an impressive Supercars Wildcard program alongside Australian motorsport great Craig Lowndes in 2025. He wasted little time making his mark at the top level, securing back-to-back Top Ten Shootout appearances on debut in Sydney before continuing to demonstrate his qualifying speed against some of the world’s best touring car drivers.
The young gun’s potential was on full display at the 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000, where he delivered a record-breaking lap to secure pole position before going on to claim his maiden Supercars podium at Mount Panorama. The result marked a defining moment in his rookie season and reinforced the promise Bates has shown since stepping into the Championship full-time. With a full season of Supercars experience now under his belt, Bates heads into 2027 looking to build on that momentum with Matt Stone Racing as the team continues to grow into a Bathurst and Championship contender.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Matt and everyone at MSR for putting their faith in me and giving me the opportunity to make the step into a full-time Supercars seat,” Bates said. “It’s been a massive learning experience, and I’ve been fortunate to have such a strong group around me to help me develop throughout the season. To achieve what we did at Bathurst in my first year shows what’s possible, and I’m hungry for more.
“I’m really excited to have my future locked in with MSR and Bendix Racing. We’ve already achieved some pretty special things together, and I’m looking forward to coming back swinging in 2027 with more experience under my belt. We’re only just getting started”.
Bates’ re-signing comes alongside a significant commitment from Bendix, who have finalised a multi-year extension to remain the naming rights partner of the No.10 Bendix Racing Camaro.
A recognised leader in braking technology, Bendix has built a strong reputation for delivering quality, reliability and performance across a broad range of automotive applications. With a long-standing commitment to innovation and engineering excellence, Bendix products are designed to meet the demands of Australian driving conditions. Bendix Racing brings that very same commitment to excellence to the Supercars Championship.
The continued partnership provides Bendix with a platform to connect with passionate motorsport fans across Australia, while backing the development of emerging talent and driving the team’s pursuit of on-track success. George Kyriakopoulos, Vice President Asia Pacific of Bendix, commented: “It’s full throttle for Bendix Racing, MSR and Zach Bates! The pole-winning combination that put together a stunning lap of the Gods at Bathurst this year will continue in 2027, and we couldn’t be prouder. Bendix Racing is about backing talent and showing what Bendix stands for in front of Australian motorsport fans, and in his rookie season Zach has done exactly that, with a Bathurst qualifying record, pole and a podium at the Great Race.”
Matt Stone, Team Owner of Matt Stone Racing, said securing Bates and continuing the partnership with Bendix were important steps in the team’s continued growth.
“Zach has shown enormous potential in his first season, and what he achieved at Bathurst was a fantastic reward for the work he and the entire team have put in. We knew he had the talent coming into the year, but to see him step up against some of the best in the world and deliver results like that has been incredibly rewarding for everyone in the garage and back at the workshop.
“We’re really pleased to have Zach committed to MSR in a multi-year deal, and equally proud to have Bendix continuing alongside us. Having that stability across both our driver lineup and our key partnerships allows us to keep building on the foundations we’ve put in place.
“Bendix has been a fantastic partner over the last three years, and we’re grateful for the trust they continue to place in us. We’ve shared some special moments this season, particularly at Bathurst, and we’re looking forward to creating plenty more together.”
With Bates and Bendix both committed through the coming seasons, Matt Stone Racing will head into 2027 with continuity, looking to build on a breakthrough 2026 campaign and turn its growing potential into further success on track.
