Christchurch lands extra NZ Supercars round
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 23 May 2025
New Zealand will get a double dose of Supercars for at least three years with Christchurch joining the calendar.
In addition to the annual trip to Taupo, Christchurch’s Ruapuna Motorsport Park will host Supercars when the Championship heads to New Zealand from 2026 to 2028.
This ensures fans on both the North and South Islands will get to witness Supercars racing first-hand.
Ruapuna Raceway will be the fourth venue in New Zealand to host a Supercars Championship round, following Pukekohe, Hamilton, and Taupo, but the first on the South Island.
To be ready for the arrival of Supercars, the venue will receive a multimillion-dollar upgrade.
The 3.3km circuit is long and characterised by a long main straight, with mainly medium-speed corners wrapping around themselves.
Local V8s racing at Ruapuna Raceway. Image: Supplied
The club-owned track is located 15km west of the city in the shadow of mountains and hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix in 1998 and 1999, both of which were won by Simon Wills.
The possibility of staging multiple New Zealand rounds has been discussed for some time, and Supercars CEO Shane Howard was delighted with the news.
“This is an incredibly exciting day for Supercars and for fans across New Zealand,” he said.
“We’ve always wanted to race in the South Island, and thanks to the commitment of the New Zealand Government, ChristchurchNZ, Christchurch City Council and the incredible work of the Canterbury Car Club, that dream will become a reality from 2026.
“Christchurch is a motorsport city, and Ruapuna is a circuit with huge potential. This is a passionate community with a proud history, and we are thrilled to bring Supercars to the South Island for the first time.
“Since Supercars’ first visit to New Zealand in 2001, more than 2.3 million fans have attended championship events across the country and we’re thrilled to be bringing a second event to the country that makes up 20 per cent of our total audience.
“We know what Supercars means to New Zealanders. This is going to be a two-week celebration of Kiwi motorsport that will rival any on our calendar.”
A sold out crowd welcomed Supercars back to New Zealand at Taupo last year, while a smaller, but still substantial crowd witnessed Matt Payne win the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy this year.
The circuit is run by the Canterbury Car Club which has already raised nearly $1 million in funds to developments.
Matt Payne takes victory at Taupo. Image: Mark Horsburgh
“We’re incredibly proud to see Ruapuna join the Supercars calendar,” said President Lewis Low.
“This is a dream come true for our club and for motorsport fans right across the South Island. It’s the result of years of hard work from our dedicated volunteers and supporters, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Supercars to our home.
“Ruapuna has a proud grassroots heritage, and this investment will help us transform the venue into a world-class facility that can deliver an unforgettable experience for fans, teams and drivers alike.”
Both Taupo and Christchurch are owned by Tony Quinn and he is proud to play a big role in growing NZ motorsport.
“Locking in Supercars until 2028 is a huge vote of confidence in what we’ve built at Taupō,” he said.
“From day one, we’ve wanted to make this one of the best motorsport experiences in the Southern Hemisphere, and Supercars has been a huge part of that vision.
“The feedback from fans, teams, and drivers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re only just getting started.
“With Taupō and now Ruapuna on the calendar, New Zealand’s motorsport motorsport scene is stepping onto the world stage like never before.”
Image: Toyota NZ
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