In a move that’s sure to spark debate among racing fans, Triple Eight driver Will Brown has thrown his support behind a rival Supercars competitor, and it’s not just a casual endorsement—it’s a full-fledged sponsorship deal. But here’s where it gets controversial: Brown isn’t backing just anyone; he’s sponsoring Zach Bates, a rookie making his full-time Supercars debut with Matt Stone Racing. And this is the part most people miss—Brown’s sponsorship isn’t coming from his podcast or a third-party sponsor; it’s through his family-owned transport business, Will Brown Transport (WBT), which he co-owns with his father, Shane. This means Bates will sport WBT signage on his helmet, turning heads and raising eyebrows in the paddock.
The partnership isn’t entirely out of the blue, though. Brown has been a long-time supporter of Bates, even helping him secure a spot at Eggleston Motorsport for the 2025 Super2 season. During the latest episode of the Lucky Dogs podcast, which Brown co-hosts with Brodie Kostecki, he clarified that this sponsorship is separate from the podcast’s previous backing of junior drivers. ‘I thought I can’t just use all the Lucky Dogs money because it’s half Brodie’s as well,’ Brown explained, highlighting the personal nature of this investment.
But why WBT? Brown revealed that the transport business is a relatively new venture for his family. About a year and a half ago, they purchased trucks under the name KDK Car Carriers, which has since been rebranded as Will Brown Transport. ‘It’s pretty much Will Brown Transport now,’ he said, adding that the change will be official in a few weeks. This shift allows Brown to personally back Bates without involving his podcast co-host or other sponsors.
When asked about his decision to support Bates, Brown kept it simple: ‘As we all know, I’ve supported Zach—they’re a great family, and I thought we’d have a bit of fun with it.’ But this isn’t just about fun; it’s a strategic move that could pay off big time if Bates performs well in his rookie season.
Speaking of rookies, Bates is one of five newcomers to Supercars this year, joining Jayden Ojeda, Jobe Stewart, Jackson Walls, and Rylan Gray. The latter, Gray, is teaming up with Kostecki at Dick Johnson Racing, setting the stage for an intriguing rookie battle. During the podcast, Kostecki and Brown debated who’d be the top rookie, with Kostecki predictably backing his new teammate, while Brown hedged his bets on both Gray and Bates.
‘Rylan’s obviously going to be strong—he looked good in Super2,’ Brown admitted. ‘But I don’t think Zach got to show his full potential last year.’ He also pointed out that Matt Stone Racing will need to step up their game for Bates to outshine Gray. ‘I think Zach will have some standout drives,’ Brown added, citing Bates’ impressive fifth-place qualifying at QR last year in one of their cars. ‘Not just anyone can jump in and do that.’
Here’s the real question, though: Is Brown’s sponsorship a smart bet or a risky move? While supporting a rival could be seen as a bold strategy, it also raises questions about divided loyalties. And what if Bates outperforms Brown himself? Could this backfire in ways we haven’t even considered? Let us know what you think in the comments—is Brown’s move a stroke of genius or a potential pitfall? The 2024 Supercars season just got a whole lot more interesting.
