IT wasn’t all smooth sailing, but Zach Bates overall passed his first big test with flying colours according to a pair of champion teammates.

Bates spent yesterday at Queensland Raceway getting to grips with Triple Eight’s Supercheap Auto wildcard Camaro, ahead of his solo debut next week and an enduro campaign with Craig Lowndes.

Lowndes and runaway points leader Broc Feeney also turned laps in the #888, but the day was about Bates.

The 2024 Super2 champion had one slip-up when he speared off at Turn 6, but otherwise impressed.

“He’s progressed very well today in the sense of just getting his head around the way the team operate the car and the number of changes that the team gave him to trial,” said Lowndes.

“His input and feedback was fantastic… Zach is extremely precise about what he wants, and it gives me a lot of confidence going forward.”

Reigning champion Will Brown told V8 Sleuth: “I’ve been a big believer in Zach and what he can do and I think today he has already done a fantastic job.

“I think everyone here is very happy with the job he has done today. He had one little excursion but you have got to expect that.

“Hopefully he can prove himself in the wildcard and also over the two enduros with Lowndesy.

“To win the Super2 championship last year was a great job. I think this year obviously for whatever reason they’re probably not having the run they want with the Eggleston car right now, in Townsville they didn’t, but hopefully he can bounce back in Super2 as well and maybe get a main game seat next year.

“That would be the goal for him.”

Pic: Supplied

Brown also lapped up some brief track time at QR, assisting Triple Eight’s Super2 duo by completing 10 laps in the Commodore of Jackson Walls.

“Jumping back into it, you don’t notice how different they are until you drive them again. There are a lot of differences there,” said Brown.

“But I was just trying to help baseline the car, see if we can give any input and help the Super2 guys out.”

Bates, 21, meanwhile hopes his work can double as useful intel for the Red Bull Ampol entries at the Ipswich Super440.

“It was good to have both Andrew (Edwards) and Marty (Short) here as well to crunch through the data with. They’ve got a pretty big interest in how it’s going to go for next week with them, so hopefully I’ve helped them out somehow,” he said.