Hunt on for next NZ Supercars champ
Kiwi drivers rev up for glory as ITM Taupō Super400 gets closer
Five Kiwi Supercars drivers visited Taupō International Motorsport Park this week, in the lead-up to the inaugural ITM Taupō Super400.
In just 50 days, Supercars will ignite the tracks of New Zealand once more, making its return back to the country for the first time since 2022.
NZ Supercar legends Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin’s move to the USA, has opened doors for a new Kiwi hero to make his name.
Brad Jones Racing teammates Andre Heimgartner and Jaxon Evans were preparing to take to the track alongside reigning Repco Bathurst 1000 winner Richie Stanaway.
Stanaway’s 21-year-old teammate Matt Payne will also take the track and was also the 2023 Adelaide 500 champion.
Wellingtonian racer Ryan Wood of Walkinshaw Andretti United would also be racing.
Stanaway and Payne, also travelled to Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty for a public event, celebrating Stanaway’s return home, with the Peter Brock Trophy from the Supercars championships in tow.
Lovers of Supercars are gearing up for the event too with ticket demand high and additional grandstand and corporate hospitality tickets selling out.
The organisers made the decision to create additional capacity after an “unprecedented demand” for tickets arose after the initial release in November.
Tickets for a new gold reserved grandstand, general admission and a new corporate facility went on sale two weeks ago.
Supercars CEO Shane Howard said in late February that he was excited about the event’s return to New Zealand and the inaugural event at Taupō International Motorsport Park.
“[We have] just 60 days’ to go until our debut in Taupō . All of today’s announcements further increase the venue’s capacity to service as many fans as possible at the event.”
He said the demand for tickets had been exceptional, with the initial release of grandstand tickets sold out already.
To cater for the demand, an extra grandstand would be erected.
The new Gold Reserved Grandstand will be located at Turn 13, leading into the start/finish line, and provide a line of sight to the two fastest straights on the track. It will be placed between the Platinum Reserved Grandstand at Turn 12 and the Turn 14 Villas.
Additional general admission tickets were also being made available, and a new corporate facility - the Taupō Lounge - located at Turn 9.
Howard described the location as an “amazing circuit” and “one of the most scenic parts of the world we have ever raced”.