Zak Best

{{Infobox racing driver

|name = Zak Best

|image =

|caption =

|nationality = {{flag|AUS|name=Australian}}

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|10|11}}

|birth_place = Benalla, Victoria

| current series = Super2 Series

| first year = 2020

| current team = Anderson Motorsport

| car number = 17

| starts = 26

| wins = 3

| poles = 3

| podiums = 8

| best finish = 2nd

| year = 2021

| prev series =

| prev series years =

| titles =

| title years =

| awards =

| award years =

}}

Zak Best (born 11 October 2001){{cite web |title=Zak Best |url=https://www.supercars.com/drivers/zak-best/ |website=Supercars |access-date=27 July 2022}} is an Australian racing car driver. He currently competes in the Dunlop Super2 Series in the No. 17 Ford Mustang GT, with wins, podiums and poles to his name in the Super2 Series.{{cite news|url=https://www.supercars.com/news/super2/best-edges-everingham-in-thrilling-qualifying/|title=Best edges Everingham in thrilling qualifying

|last=Pavey|first=James|date=9 July 2022|accessdate=10 July 2022}} He also raced in the 2021 Bathurst 1000, finishing in fifteenth.

Career

=Early career=

File:Ford Falcon FG of Zak Best (The Bend, 2018).jpg driving a Ford Falcon FG]]

Best made his debut in the V8 Touring Car Series (now known as the Super3 Series) in 2018, finishing second in the opening round at Phillip Island behind defending champion Jack Smith and ahead of MW Motorsport teammate Tyler Everingham.{{cite web |title=Benalla's Zak Best shines at Winton |url=https://www.triplem.com.au/story/benallas-zak-best-shines-at-winton-91340 |website=Triple M |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=26 April 2018}} Best would finish the season in second place behind Everingham.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Bruce |title=Best looking to Super2 in 2020 |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2019/05/29/best-looking-to-super2-in-2020 |website=Auto Action |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=29 May 2019}}

Despite hopes to join the Super2 Series in 2019, Best continued in the Super3 series. Despite winning several races Best was only fourth in the series, which team owner Matthew White blamed on engine issues at the Winton round.{{cite web |last1=Herrero |first1=Daniel |title=Best moves up to Super2 with MW Motorsport |url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2020/01/17/best-moves-up-to-super2-with-mw-motorsport/ |website=Speedcafe |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=17 January 2020}}

=Super2=

For 2020, Best moved up to the Super2 Series, still driving for MW Motorsport. He qualified in third place on debut at the Adelaide Parklands Circuit, and achieved a best finish of fifth place in the final round at Bathurst.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Bruce |title=Tickford Recruit Best |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2020/12/14/tickford-recruit-best |website=Auto Action |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=14 December 2020}}

Best switched to Tickford Racing for 2021, finishing the series in second place behind Broc Feeney.{{cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Simon |title=Best satisfied with Bathurst 1000 debut |url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2021/12/14/best-satisfied-with-bathurst-1000-debut/ |website=Speedcafe |date=13 December 2021 |access-date=27 July 2022}} He remained with Tickford for the 2022 series.{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Dan |title=Best re-signs with Tickford |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2022/02/15/best-re-signs-with-tickford |website=Auto Action |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=15 February 2022}} He finished runner up again in his 2022 campaign.

Best announced for his 2023 Super2 campaign that he would be making the switch to Anderson Motorsport driving an ex-Dick Johnson Racing Ford Mustang GT. He will join Tickford Racing for the endurance events.{{cite web|last=Pavey |first=James|title=Best reveals 2023 Super2 plans|url= https://www.supercars.com/news/super2/best-returns-to-super2-with-ex-djr-mustang/|website=Supercars |access-date=16 February 2023|date=13 February 2023}}

=Supercars=

Best made his Supercars Championship and Bathurst 1000 debut in 2021 driving with his Super2 team Tickford Racing. He partnered regular driver Jack Le Brocq in his Ford Mustang GT for the 2021 Bathurst 1000. He was given a late call-up due to Alexandre Prémat being unable to make the trip to Australia. The pair qualified in eighth place were only able to finish in fifteenth place, in part due to double stacking in the pits. Best was described by team principal Tim Edwards as being one of the best co-drivers in that year's race.

For 2022 Tickford announced that they would enter Best in Supercars rounds at Hidden Valley and The Bend as a wildcard.{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Ed |title=Rookie gets wildcard run in Supercars |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/motorsport/rookie-gets-wildcard-run-in-supercars-c-6537028 |website=7 News |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=22 April 2022}} In Sunday qualifying, Best crashed, forcing him to start from the back on the grid in the final two races. In the second of these, Best was involved in a collision with Gary Jacobson, causing Best to retire, with Best highly critical of the driving standards of the drivers towards the rear of the field.{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Dan |title=Best critical of rear of grid driving |url=https://autoaction.com.au/2022/06/19/best-critical-of-rear-of-grid-driving |website=Auto Action |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=19 June 2022}}

On July 30, 2022, Best became the youngest and first Supercars Championship wildcard entrant to claim a pole position, which was done at the 2022 The Bend SuperSprint. Best finished race 21 5th, becoming the highest finishing placed wildcard entrant.

Career results

Aussie Racing Cars 2016 at age 14, Best was the youngest ever to compete and win a race (Phillip Island) and runner up Rookie, in an Aussie Racing Car.

CAMS Jayco Australian Formula 4 Championship 2017 finished 10th. Khumo V8 Supercars 2018, drove Ford FG with MW Motorsport finished Runner Up. Khumo Tyres Super3 2019, drove Ford FG with MW Motorsport finished 4th

= Complete Australian Formula 4 Championship results =

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Team

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! DC

! Points

2017

!nowrap| AGI Sport

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAN1
1
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SAN1
2
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SAN1
3
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAN2
1
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAN2
2
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SAN2
3
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BAR
1
{{small|13}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BAR
2
{{small|10}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BAR
3
{{small|10}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| PHI
1
{{small|9}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| PHI
2
{{small|9}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF:"| PHI
3
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| QLD
1
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| QLD
2
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| QLD
3
{{small|10}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SYD
1
{{small|8}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SYD
2
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SYD
3
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SUR
1
{{small|9}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SUR
2
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUR
3
{{small|11}}

! 10th

! 83

=Super2 Series results=

(key) (Race results only)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
colspan=45\| Super2 Series results
Year ! Team ! Car ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! Position ! Points
2020 ! MW Motorsport ! Nissan Altima L33 \|style=background:#dfffdf\| ADE {{small\|8}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| ADE {{small\|8}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| ADE {{small\|11}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| SYD {{small\|11}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| SYD {{small\|7}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| BAT {{small\|6}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| BAT {{small\|5}} !colspan=5\| ! 6th ! 549
2021 ! Tickford Racing ! Ford FG X Falcon \|style=background:#dfffdf\| BAT {{small\|4}} \|style=background:#dfdfdf\| BAT {{small\|2}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| TOW1 {{small\|4}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| TOW1 {{small\|4}} \|style=background:#ffdf9f\| TOW2 {{small\|3}} \|style=background:#ffffbf\| TOW2 {{small\|1}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| SMP {{small\|15}} \|style=background:#ffffff\| SMP {{small\|C}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| BAT {{small\|4}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| BAT {{small\|4}} !colspan=2\| !style=background:#dfdfdf\| 2nd !style=background:#dfdfdf\| 1077
2022 ! Tickford Racing ! Ford FG X Falcon \|style=background:#dfdfdf\| SMP {{small\|2}} \|style=background:#ffffbf\| SMP {{small\|1}} \|style=background:#efcfff\| WAN {{small\|Ret}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| WAN {{small\|7}} \|style=background:#dfdfdf\| TOW {{small\|2}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| TOW {{small\|12}} \|style=background:#dfdfdf\| SAN {{small\|2}} \|style=background:#ffdf9f\| SAN {{small\|3}} \|style=background:#ffffbf\| BAT {{small\|1}} \|style=background:#ffffff\| BAT {{small\|C}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| ADE {{small\|4}} \|style=background:#ffdf9f\| ADE {{small\|3}} !style=background:#dfdfdf\| 2nd !style=background:#dfdfdf\| 1257
2023 ! Anderson Motorsport ! Ford Mustang GT \|style=background:#ffdf9f\| NEW {{small\|3}} \|style=background:#ffffbf\| NEW {{small\|1}} \|style=background:#ffdf9f\| WAN {{small\|3}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| WAN {{small\|7}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| TOW {{small\|8}} \|style=background:#ffffbf\| TOW {{small\|1}} \|style=background:#dfdfdf\| SAN {{small\|2}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| SAN {{small\|12}} \|style=background:#dfdfdf\| BAT {{small\|2}} \|style=background:#dfdfdf\| BAT {{small\|2}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| ADE {{small\|13}} \|style=background:#dfdfdf\| ADE {{small\|2}} !style=background:#dfdfdf\| 2nd !style=background:#dfdfdf\| 1431

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

colspan=45| Super2 Series results

Year

! Team

! Car

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! Position

! Points

2020

! MW Motorsport

! Nissan Altima L33

|style=background:#dfffdf| ADE
{{small|8}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| ADE
{{small|11}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| SYD
{{small|11}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| SYD
{{small|7}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| BAT
{{small|6}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| BAT
{{small|5}}

!colspan=5|

! 6th

! 549

2021

! Tickford Racing

! Ford FG X Falcon

|style=background:#dfffdf| BAT
{{small|4}}

|style=background:#dfdfdf| BAT
{{small|2}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| TOW1
{{small|4}}

|style=background:#ffdf9f| TOW2
{{small|3}}

|style=background:#ffffbf| TOW2
{{small|1}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| SMP
{{small|15}}

|style=background:#ffffff| SMP
{{small|C}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| BAT
{{small|4}}

!colspan=2|

!style=background:#dfdfdf| 2nd

!style=background:#dfdfdf| 1077

2022

! Tickford Racing

! Ford FG X Falcon

|style=background:#dfdfdf| SMP
{{small|2}}

|style=background:#ffffbf| SMP
{{small|1}}

|style=background:#efcfff| WAN
{{small|Ret}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| WAN
{{small|7}}

|style=background:#dfdfdf| TOW
{{small|2}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| TOW
{{small|12}}

|style=background:#dfdfdf| SAN
{{small|2}}

|style=background:#ffdf9f| SAN
{{small|3}}

|style=background:#ffffbf| BAT
{{small|1}}

|style=background:#ffffff| BAT
{{small|C}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| ADE
{{small|4}}

|style=background:#ffdf9f| ADE
{{small|3}}

!style=background:#dfdfdf| 2nd

!style=background:#dfdfdf| 1257

2023

! Anderson Motorsport

! Ford Mustang GT

|style=background:#ffdf9f| NEW
{{small|3}}

|style=background:#ffffbf| NEW
{{small|1}}

|style=background:#ffdf9f| WAN
{{small|3}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| WAN
{{small|7}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| TOW
{{small|8}}

|style=background:#ffffbf| TOW
{{small|1}}

|style=background:#dfdfdf| SAN
{{small|2}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| SAN
{{small|12}}

|style=background:#dfdfdf| BAT
{{small|2}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| ADE
{{small|13}}

|style=background:#dfdfdf| ADE
{{small|2}}

!style=background:#dfdfdf| 2nd

!style=background:#dfdfdf| 1431

=Supercars Championship results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=45\| Supercars results
Year ! Team ! Car ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! 22 ! 23 ! 24 ! 25 ! 26 ! 27 ! 28 ! 29 ! 30 ! 31 ! 32 ! 33 ! 34 ! Position ! Points
2021 ! Tickford Racing ! Ford Mustang GT \| BAT1 R1 \| BAT1 R2 \| SAN R3 \| SAN R4 \| SAN R5 \| SYM R6 \| SYM R7 \| SYM R8 \| BEN R9 \| BEN R10 \| BEN R11 \| HID R12 \| HID R13 \| HID R14 \| TOW1 R15 \| TOW1 R16 \| TOW2 R17 \| TOW2 R18 \| TOW2 R19 \| SMP1 R20 \| SMP1 R21 \| SMP1 R22 \| SMP2 R23 \| SMP2 R24 \| SMP2 R25 \| SMP3 R26 \| SMP3 R27 \| SMP3 R28 \|style="background: #f1f8ff"\| SMP4 R29 {{small\|PO}} \|style="background: #f1f8ff"\| SMP4 R30 {{small\|PO}} \|style="background: #dfffdf" \| BAT2 R31 {{small\|15}} !colspan=3\| ! 39th ! 120
2022 ! Tickford Racing ! Ford Mustang GT \| SMP R1 \| SMP R2 \| SYM R3 \| SYM R4 \| SYM R5 \| MEL R6 \| MEL R7 \| MEL R8 \| MEL R9 \| BAR R10 \| BAR R11 \| BAR R12 \| WIN R13 \| WIN R14 \| WIN R15 \|style="background: #dfffdf\| HID R16 {{small\|21}} \|style="background: #dfffdf\| HID R17 {{small\|21}} \|style="background: #efcfff\| HID R18 {{small\|Ret}} \| TOW R19 \| TOW R20 \|style="background: #dfffdf\| BEN R21 {{small\|5}} \|style="background: #dfffdf\| BEN R22 {{small\|19}} \|style="background: #efcfff\| BEN R23 {{small\|Ret}} \|style="background: #f1f8ff\| SAN R24 {{small\|PO}} \|style="background: #f1f8ff\| SAN R25 {{small\|PO}} \|style="background: #f1f8ff\| SAN R26 {{small\|PO}} \| PUK R27 \| PUK R28 \| PUK R29 \|style="background: #efcfff \| BAT R30 {{small\|Ret}} \| SUR R31 \| SUR R32 \| ADE R33 \| ADE R34 ! 39th ! 162
2023 ! Tickford Racing ! Ford Mustang GT \| NEW R1 \| NEW R2 \| MEL R3 \| MEL R4 \| MEL R5 \| MEL R6 \| BAR R7 \| BAR R8 \| BAR R9 \| SYM R10 \| SYM R11 \| SYM R12 \| HID R13 \| HID R14 \| HID R15 \| TOW R16 \| TOW R17 \| SMP R18 \| SMP R19 \| BEN R20 \| BEN R21 \| BEN R22 \|style=background:#dfffdf\| SAN R23 {{small\|12}} \|style=background:#dfffdf\| BAT R24 {{small\|6}} \| SUR R25 \| SUR R26 \| ADE R27 \| ADE R28 !colspan=6\| ! 32nd ! 342

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

colspan=45| Supercars results

Year

! Team

! Car

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! 31

! 32

! 33

! 34

! Position

! Points

2021

! Tickford Racing

! Ford Mustang GT

| BAT1
R1

| BAT1
R2

| SAN
R3

| SAN
R4

| SAN
R5

| SYM
R6

| SYM
R7

| SYM
R8

| BEN
R9

| BEN
R10

| BEN
R11

| HID
R12

| HID
R13

| HID
R14

|style="background: #f1f8ff"| SMP4
R29
{{small|PO}}

|style="background: #f1f8ff"| SMP4
R30
{{small|PO}}

|style="background: #dfffdf" | BAT2
R31
{{small|15}}

!colspan=3|

! 39th

! 120

2022

! Tickford Racing

! Ford Mustang GT

| SMP
R1

| SMP
R2

| SYM
R3

| SYM
R4

| SYM
R5

| MEL
R6

| MEL
R7

| MEL
R8

| MEL
R9

| BAR
R10

| BAR
R11

| BAR
R12

| WIN
R13

| WIN
R14

| WIN
R15

|style="background: #dfffdf| HID
R16
{{small|21}}

|style="background: #dfffdf| HID
R17
{{small|21}}

|style="background: #efcfff| HID
R18
{{small|Ret}}

| TOW
R19

| TOW
R20

|style="background: #dfffdf| BEN
R21
{{small|5}}

|style="background: #dfffdf| BEN
R22
{{small|19}}

|style="background: #efcfff| BEN
R23
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background: #f1f8ff| SAN
R24
{{small|PO}}

|style="background: #f1f8ff| SAN
R25
{{small|PO}}

|style="background: #f1f8ff| SAN
R26
{{small|PO}}

| PUK
R27

| PUK
R28

| PUK
R29

|style="background: #efcfff | BAT
R30
{{small|Ret}}

| SUR
R31

| SUR
R32

| ADE
R33

| ADE
R34

! 39th

! 162

2023

! Tickford Racing

! Ford Mustang GT

| NEW
R1

| NEW
R2

| MEL
R3

| MEL
R4

| MEL
R5

| MEL
R6

| BAR
R7

| BAR
R8

| BAR
R9

| SYM
R10

| SYM
R11

| SYM
R12

| HID
R13

| HID
R14

| HID
R15

| TOW
R16

| TOW
R17

| SMP
R18

| SMP
R19

| BEN
R20

| BEN
R21

| BEN
R22

|style=background:#dfffdf| SAN
R23
{{small|12}}

|style=background:#dfffdf| BAT
R24
{{small|6}}

| SUR
R25

| SUR
R26

| ADE
R27

| ADE
R28

!colspan=6|

! 32nd

! 342

=Complete Bathurst 1000 results=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" ! Year ! Team ! Car ! Co-driver ! Position ! Laps
2021 \| Tickford Racing \| Ford Mustang S550 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Jack Le Brocq \| align="center" \| 15th \| align="center" \| 161
2022 \| Tickford Racing \| Ford Mustang S550 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} Thomas Randle \| align="center" \| DNF \| align="center" \| 0
2023 \| Tickford Racing \| Ford Mustang S650 \| {{flagicon\|AUS}} James Courtney \| align="center" \| 6th \| align="center" \| 161

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! Year

! Team

! Car

! Co-driver

! Position

! Laps

2021

| Tickford Racing

| Ford Mustang S550

| {{flagicon|AUS}} Jack Le Brocq

| align="center" | 15th