Best to contest Super2, Bathurst 1000 with Tickford Racing in 2022

TICKFORD RACING – ZAK BEST RETURNS FOR 2022

15 February, 2022
Following an impressive first season with the Tickford Racing in 2021, 20-year old Zak Best will return to the team in 2022 with aim at taking out the Dunlop Super2 Series crown, and come October will make his second start in the Bathurst 1000 as a co-driver with the Melbourne-based team. After a runner-up performance in the 2021 development series, Best is keen to come out of the gates strong in 2022 as the team pursues its third Super2 Series championship.
 
“I’m pumped to be back with Tickford Racing this year,” said Best. “We had a strong 2021, coming second in Super2, and I feel like we can definitely make a run at the title this year, so I’m looking forward to having another shot at it. And to have the chance to race in the Bathurst 1000 is really exciting, obviously I got to race in it last year but it came together fairly quickly, so having that signed off early in the year is pretty cool. I think I’ve gelled really well with the team here, and obviously we’ve had some good results so it’s very rewarding to have the opportunity. I can’t wait to hit the track and make the most of it for a big 2022.”

Across the 2021 Dunlop Super2 Series, Best recorded a top four finish in eight of nine races, including his first Super2 pole and race win at Townsville, and was leading the second race at Sydney Motorsport Park when it was cancelled due to torrential rain. Best was later the sole debutant in the 2021 Bathurst 1000 following a surprise call up, but turned heads with an impressive outing at Mount Panorama. It was that performance that gave Tickford Racing CEO and Team Principal Tim Edwards the confidence to retain the 20-year old’s services in 2022.
 
“Zak was incredibly impressive last year, so we’re very happy to be continuing with him in our program this season,” Edwards said. “His progression across 2021 was fantastic, and of course his performance at Bathurst was outstanding, especially given that he got the call only six weeks before the race. Statistically he drove one of the best races among the co-drivers, which is remarkable considering he was the only driver making his Bathurst debut. He certainly showed that he’s a driver on the rise, so we’re delighted to be continuing with Zak in 2022.”
 
Tickford Racing has a strong history in the Super2 Series – winning back-to-back championships in 2015-16 at the hands of Cam Waters and Garry Jacobson – and has a track record of developing young drivers into future talents that feature and succeed at Supercars’ top level. Drivers including Michael Caruso, James Moffat, Chaz Mostert, Le Brocq, Broc Feeney, and others have gone on to race full-time in Supercars after driving in Tickford’s Super2 program.
 
“We’re always looking for the next generation of talent, whether it’s a Cam Waters, a Chaz Mostert, a Thomas Randle, et cetera, and Zak’s certainly placed himself on that trajectory,” Edwards added. “He’s continually proving his ability and raising his potential, so we’ll look to continue developing him across this year, and with any luck we’ll continue to achieve some great results on the track.”
 
The Dunlop Super2 Series kicks off its 2022 season with the Supercars Championship at the Sydney SuperNight, March 4-6 at Sydney Motorsport Park.
 
Ends.