Kiwi drivers looking to add to tally

Fourteen New Zealanders have won a total of 229 Supercars races, including three on the grid for this weekend’s round in Taupo¯.

That trio are among five Kiwi drivers looking to add to the tally in 200km races today and tomorrow.

Andre Heimgartner

With the departure of Shane van Gisbergen to Nascar in 2024, Heimgartner is the senior New Zealander in Supercars. The 28-year-old is in his 10th season in the category. He and the team haven’t reached the heights of last year but only a quarter of this season’s 24 races have been completed.

Heimgartner has proven himself in the past, and after a dismal round at Melbourne’s Albert Park, he and the team have had four weeks to get their car sorted. To win in front of a home crowd and family will further add to Heimgartner’s motivation to top the podium.

Richie Stanaway

He already has an envious international pedigree and is now looking to cement himself as a Supercars championship challenger. Stanaway has two prestigious race wins — Sandown 500 and Bathurst titles — and is keen to earn a solo drive win.

He has been quick since the start of the season, and the longer he spends in the Gen3 car, the better he’s going to get.

He hasn’t raced in front of a home crowd since 2019. Taupo¯ might be the place for his first solo win, and if not, a podium finish is definitely on.

Matthew Payne

It seems Payne has been around for a while. However, he’s a newcomer to the main game, and best of all for him and the team is that they know how to win. He’s raced only 14 rounds in Supercars but already has an Adelaide 500 win, a race win, a pole position and two added podiums.

He was also on track to grab another two wins at Melbourne before getting involved in racing incidents. Payne is a genuine contender.

Ryan Wood

One of the youngest drivers in the field is highly rated by many, including former Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen.

While his start to the season in the main game hasn’t set the world on fire, his talent is obvious, and racing back on home soil could be the incentive he needs

Jaxon Evans

Similar to Wood, Evans has undoubted talent, as indicated by his time racing Porsches, but he has also struggled a little mastering the Gen3 Supercar.

Although a local, he has not raced around the Taupo¯ track, but is aware of its challenging attributes, including high tyre degradation.

His team, Brad Jones Racing, have struggled a little with braking issues. If this has been sorted, Evans could comfortably be a midfield challenger.