Canberra's Zach Bates rising through the ranks in Dunlop Super 2 Series

Bates finished third in a Dunlop Super 2 Series race in Bathurst, with the Walkinshaw Andretti United driver sitting fifth on the overall standings leading into the series finale at the Adelaide 500 on November 23-26.

The Canberra product signed a deal to race with Walkinshaw Andretti United after finishing second on the Toyota86 series last year, where he won more races than any other driver.

The Super 2 category is the level directly below the Supercars and helped launch Cameron Hill into a V8 driver's seat this year.

Bates is hoping to follow the same path, while his cousins Harry and Lewis have dominated the Australian Rally Championship in recent years.

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Zak Best sits in first overall on the Super 2 standings - but he was on the wrong end of heartache in Bathurst when a five-second penalty for a false start overturned his race victory and handed the honours to Kai Allen.

Best leads Allen by 30 points on the overall standings, setting up a tantalising finish in November.

"I didn't get a very good start, but I knew Zak was on the verge of getting a penalty, which is a bit unfortunate, you don't want that to happen," Allen said.

"I went across the line and they were celebrating and I was like, 'What for?' It's an unreal result, I'm so thankful for the team."

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