Supercars announces second New Zealand round for 2026 season

Supercars has announced that it will have two events in New Zealand from next year.

Ruapuna Raceway, 15km west of Christchurch, will host the first-ever Supercars event on New Zealand’s South Island — part of a groundbreaking NZ double-header. The length of the deal means that there will be three years of twin events: the ongoing round at Taupo and Ruapuna Raceway.

“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,” Supercars CEO Shane Howard 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.

“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% 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.”

Ruapuna Raceway, which opened in 1963 and has undergone several upgrades in the past, is 3.33km in length. It will benefit from a multimillion-dollar upgrade ahead of the event.

Supercars has raced at Taupo for the last two years, and previous to that, at Pukekohe Raceway near Auckland. It has also raced on a street circuit, at Hamilton, between 2008 and 2012.

Event details are yet to be confirmed, but a likely date would be a week either side of the Taupo round, which has run in April over the last two years.