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Supercars preparing for second NZ round in 2026

2024 ITM Taupo Super400, Event 03 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Taupo, Taupo, , New Zealand. 20 Apr, 2024.

By Andrew Clarke

Following the success of Supercars’ return to New Zealand earlier this year at the Tony Quinn-owned Taupō circuit, pressure has been building across the ditch for a second NZ round. 

Quinn told Auto Action at Taupō that he would prefer back-to-back rounds in NZ and that he preferred Highland Park in the South Island over Hampton Downs just down the road from Taupō for logistical reasons as much as anything.

He said the Taupō round swallowed all the extra temporary infrastructure on the North Island.

To further the Highlands push, New Zealand’s Central Otago District Council met to discuss the region hosting a Supercars event in 2026 at Highlands Motorsport Park, located in Cromwell, just over 50km east of Queenstown.

Supercars issued a statement this morning and is keen to make the second NZ round happen.

“Supercars is constantly pursuing and evaluating opportunities to expand the sport’s reach, both in Australia and abroad,” the Supercars Statement read.

“New Zealand is home to an avid motorsport fan base, as evidenced by the sell-out success of the inaugural ITM Taupō Super400 this past April, and no less than five Kiwi drivers on the current Supercars grid.

“There has been great interest among our stakeholders and supporters in a second Supercars event in the land of the long white cloud, which we will continue to explore alongside our ongoing efforts to sustain and grow the success of our event in Taupō.”

Supercars will return to Taupō from April 11-13, 2025 at the ITM Taupō Super400. Tickets and corporate experiences can be found at Supercars.com.