DRIVERS ARRIVE IN TAUPŌ, KIWIS OUT TO WIN ON HOME SOIL

MEDIA RELEASE/Supercars – Photos & Media: supplied

• Supercars teams arrive at track in Taupō
• Kiwis Heimgartner, Payne, and Wood looking to defend home turf
• Track to Town highlights today in Taupō, practice begins tomorrow

Supercars has officially arrived in New Zealand, with drivers and teams finishing final preparations for the ITM Taupō Super 440, which gets underway tomorrow.

For the first time ever, Supercars will hold two events in NZ, with this weekend’s event in Taupō followed by the inaugural ITM Christchurch Super 440 next weekend.

LISTEN TO THE DRIVERS HERE

Matthew Payne

 

Ryan Wood

 

Andre Heimgartner

 

The ITM New Zealand Double Header will give Kiwi drivers Andre Heimgartner, Matt Payne, and Ryan Wood double the chance to win on home soil, while 21 Australian’s led by championship leader Brodie Kostecki will be fighting for a road win.

Heimgartner and Payne have both won in Taupō, while Wood picked up his first career podium at last year’s event.

The three Kiwis and Kostecki spoke to media today at Taupō International Motorsport Park, as event preparations continue to heat up.

There will be six Supercars races over the next 10 days in New Zealand, with on-track action beginning tomorrow with practice in Taupō.

The popular Track to Town highlights pre-event festivities today in Taupō, where the entire 24-car Supercars field will drive from Taupō International Motorsport Park into Taupō CBD.

Fans will be able to meet the stars and see the cars of Supercars from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. NZST at the free-to-the-public event.

Friday practice will be followed by two 120-kilometre races on Saturday, and one 200-kilometre race on Sunday.

The driver who scores the most points across the Taupō and Christchurch events will be awarded the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, named for beloved Kiwi driver Jason Richards who succumbed to cancer in 2011.

Payne won the JR Trophy in 2025, while Heimgartner has twice finished second in the running.

Live coverage of the ITM Taupō Super 440 can be found on Kayo and Foxtel in Australia, and Sky Sport in New Zealand.

Tickets and corporate hospitality options for the ITM Taupō Super 440 can be purchased via Supercars.com and Ticketek.

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