Neal Bates | |
---|---|
Nationality | Australian |
Born |
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
March 19, 1965
Related to | Rick Bates (twin brother) Alison Drower (sister-in-law) |
Australian Rally Championship | |
Years active | 1989-2009 |
Teams | Neal Bates Motorsport |
Best finish | 1st in 1993, 1994, 1995 & 2008 |
Previous series | |
1997-2003 1997 1997 1993-97 1989-93 1989 |
V8 Supercars Australian Super Touring Championship Australian GT Production Car Championship World Rally Championship Australian Endurance Championship Australian Touring Car Championship |
Championship titles | |
2008 1995 1995 1994 1993 |
Australian Rally Championship Targa Tasmania Australian Rally Championship Australian Rally Championship Australian Rally Championship |
Neal Bates (born 19 March 1965) is an Australian rally and racing car driver. Throughout his career Bates has been associated with Toyota in the Australian Rally Championship and for 19 years his Neal Bates Motorsport outfit ran Toyota's official rally program in Australia. Bates claimed four drivers' titles in this time and helped Toyota win four manufacturers' crowns.
Bates' navigator/co-driver since 1993 has been Coral Taylor.
Bates long-time partnership with Toyota also brought the first of many circuit racing opportunities, a drive in a star search program in Toyota's Australian Touring Car Championship team. This led to a number of touring car racing opportunities with the factory Toyota Corolla teams as well as V8 Supercar teams including Paul Weel Racing, Glenn Seton Racing and Gibson Motor Sport.