Team 18 is proud to confirm the signing of rising star Bayley Hall, who will team up with Craig Lowndes in the no. 15 Supercheap Auto Racing Chevrolet Camaro as part of the team’s 2026 Supercars Championship wildcard campaign, including the prestigious Bathurst 1000.
Hall’s racing program in the Supercheap Auto Chevrolet will include the Ipswich SuperSprint on 21–23 August, before he will be joined by Lowndes, the seven-time Great Race winner, for the endurance races at The Bend on 11–13 September and the Bathurst 1000 on 8–11 October.
At just 22 years of age, Hall has already established himself as one of Australia’s most promising young racers. After starting in karting and debuting in Hyundai Excels at just 14, he progressed through production cars before making his Bathurst 12 Hour debut at only 16, finishing third in class on debut in a MARC Car.
Hall then turned his focus to the Porsche Junior pathway, competing in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and overseas. He finished sixth in the 2023 Australian championship before undertaking dual Australian and Italian Carrera Cup campaigns in 2024, recording four race wins, 13 podiums, a top-five championship finish in Australia and a podium result in Italy.
His impressive trajectory continued last year, highlighted by his seventh consecutive Carrera Cup race win on the streets of the Gold Coast (2023–2025). His 2025 season also included nine podiums, a pole position and selection as Australia’s representative at the prestigious Porsche Junior Shootout.
Hall is set to confirm his broader 2026 racing program in the coming days, which will complement his Supercars Championship debut. The Supercheap Auto Racing wildcard program has a proven record of developing young talent, having previously launched the Supercars careers of Broc Feeney, Declan Fraser, Cooper Murray and Zach Bates, all of whom will line up on the 2026 grid.
Further details surrounding the Supercheap Auto Racing program, including livery reveals, partner announcements and official launch event information, will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
QUOTES
Bayley Hall – 2026 Supercheap Auto Racing Wildcard Driver
“I have watched the Bathurst 1000 for as long as I can remember and every time I watched it, I have dreamt of one day becoming a competitor in this historic race. I can assure you I will be working harder than ever to be at my absolute best. I have to thank Charlie, Craig, Supercheap Auto and everyone at Team 18 and Chevrolet for generously giving me this platform to learn, grow and succeed.
“I have had the pleasure of getting to know Craig across the years he has commentated for Porsche Carrera Cup. Since I was six years old driving go karts, Craig has been my biggest inspiration in how to handle yourself as a professional driver outside of the vehicle. If we don’t have fans in the stands we aren’t able to go racing and I can’t wait to be able to match his energy outside of the car and learn from one of the best behind the wheel of the Supercheap Auto Racing
Chevrolet this year.
“To be racing in the Supercars Championship is a dream come true, but to be representing both Team 18 and Supercheap Auto Racing is an opportunity like no other that I will be taking with both hands. I have some big shoes to fill with plenty of successful drivers coming through the wildcard program and that is a credit to Supercheap Auto’s amazing initiative.
“I am also eternally grateful for my Mum & Dad teaching me important values and virtues of how to work harder and harder to make dreams become a reality. Additionally, I have developed an amazing network of financial supporters and fans across the years and I have them to thank as well for helping me stay on track to achieve my dreams.”
Craig Lowndes – 2026 Supercheap Auto Racing Wildcard Driver
“I’m really excited to partner with Bayley Hall in the enduros this year. The wildcard program has always been about identifying the right young driver and giving them a proper opportunity, and Bayley absolutely fits that mould.
“I’m looking forward to sharing a car with him, helping him through those first steps in Supercars, and hopefully putting together a combination that can surprise a few people.”
“I’ve had a front-row seat to Bayley’s development last year through commentating Porsche Carrera Cup, and he’s genuinely impressed me. Round after round, he’s shown race craft well beyond his years, measured when he needs to be, aggressive when the moment calls for it, and always willing to learn. You can tell he’s a student of the sport, and that’s something I really like.
“It’s incredibly special to carry the Supercheap Auto colours again and bringing another young driver through this program is a very proud moment. To also be doing it in a Chevrolet Camaro under the Team 18 banner for the first time just adds another layer of excitement. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Charlie Schwerkolt – Team 18 Owner
“It’s fantastic to have Bayley joining us for the Supercheap Auto Racing Wildcard. The program has been a launching pad for some amazing talent over the years, and we’re proud to select Bayley as the next one to come through that pathway.
“He might be young, but he’s already built a serious CV. What he’s done in Carrera Cup here and overseas shows he’s got the speed, the work ethic and the right attitude to take the next step.
“Supercheap Auto is such a huge name in Australian motorsport, so to have that program running out of our organisation is a big moment for us. There’s a great energy around the place already. We’re still putting the finishing touches on the car, but it’s going to look sensational when it rolls out.”
Emma Halasz – Head of Marketing, Supercheap Auto
“This year marks the sixth year of the Supercheap Auto Wildcard program, and we’re super excited to welcome Bayley Hall into the family.”
“Bayley has enormous talent, discipline and ambition, and we’re proud to provide him with his opportunity to step into Supercars.”
“We’re extremely proud of the program’s history, with four of the five previous Wildcard drivers stepping into the main game the following year, and we’d love to make that five come 2027.”
“We’re working closely with Team 18 and Chevrolet Racing to ensure the Lowndes and Hall Supercheap Auto Wildcard is the most SUPER yet.”