The Supercars will race twice in New Zealand next season, with Christchurch’s Ruapuna Raceway set to be added to the 2026 calendar.
The new South Island race will form an Aotearoa double-header with North Island incumbent host venue Taupō International Motorsport Park, which has had its contract extended, for at least the next three seasons.
The double-up trip ensures Supercars teams will get bang for their buck on the trans-Tasman voyage, which this year was undertaken by sea in a bid to save travel costs.
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While no dates have been confirmed as part of this announcement, Supercars CEO Shane Howard says the two races will form a “two-week celebration of Kiwi motorsport,” suggesting they will run on consecutive weekends.
This year’s Taupō Super 440 took place on 11–13 April.
“This is an incredibly exciting day for Supercars and for fans across New Zealand,” he said.
“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.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing a second event to the country that makes up 20 per cent of our total audience.”
Ruapuna Raceway first opened in 1963 and over years of development has come to comprise six different configurations. The most commonly used is the 3.33-kilometre grand prix circuit, though it has a longer 3.44-kilometre alternative.
The unofficial lap record stands at 1 minute 11.265 seconds, set by Liam Lawson in a Rodin FZED open-wheeler in 2022.
Jonny Reid was the fastest driver to lap the circuit in a tin-top, completing a tour in 1 minute 18.742 seconds in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 in 2023.
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The anticlockwise track will receive a multimillion-dollar upgrade before its first race next year, with investment coming from New Zealand’s Major Events Fund and the Canterbury Car Club, which has already raised almost $1 million for the first stage of the redevelopment.
“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,” Canterbury Car Club president Lewis Low said.
“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 will be the fourth New Zealand venue to host a Supercars race following the incumbent Taupō and defunct events in Pukekohe and Hamilton. It beat a rival bid from Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell, Otago, in the country’s southeast to join the calendar.
Despite rumours swirling late last year that Highlands would get the nod, Ruapuna is believed to have sealed the deal owing to its proximity to a major population centre, being only 20 minutes east of central Christchurch.
The Ruapuna bid also comes with significant backing from local and national tourism bodies.
This year’s Supercars field features five-full time Kiwi drivers. Matt Payne is the best placed among them, sitting fourth in the drivers championship 75 points behind leader Broc Feeney.
Payne won two of three races at the Taupō Super 440 earlier this year to claim the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
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