The conversation that sparked Ruapuna Supercars dream

Saturday, 24 May 2025

A bold plan to bring Supercars to the South Island for the first time was hatched three years ago over a conversation with a successful Kiwi driver.

Canterbury motorsport fans were rejoicing on Friday after it was confirmed Christchurch’s Ruapuna Raceway will be New Zealand’s second Supercars venue for the next three years from 2026.

Ruapuna and Taupō International Motorsport Park will host a Kiwi doubleheader over separate weekends in April.

The vision to bring Supercars to Ruapuna was born three years ago at the final round at Pukekohe Park Raceway in 2022 before the track closed. Canterbury Car Club president Lewis Low spoke to three-time Supercars champion, Kiwi driver Shane van Gisbergen, who raved about the Canterbury track.

“I had a chat to Shane and he said Ruapuna would be a fantastic place to race the Supercars and that got me thinking. From that point on our board of governance got in touch with various people and we went from there,” Low said.

“To be fair, it was a dream. I thought if we did it right we had an equal chance with other contenders.”

After finishing second in the 2023 Supercars Championship, van Gisbergen left to race in Nascar in the United States.

A collaborative effort from the New Zealand Government, ChristchurchNZ, Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Car Club had been instrumental in securing the event for Ruapuna.

The Supercars had never previously raced in the South Island and the event would be an economic boost for the Canterbury region. Ruapuna is based in Templeton in the west of the city and is owned and operated by the Canterbury Car Club.

Last year’s Taupō round attracted 3000 international visitors, who spent approximately $5.8 million. The race was broadcast to 3.9 million people and its social media content reached an audience of 13.5 million.

About 50-60,000 people are expected to attend the Ruapuna round over the two days of racing, Low said.

While there was on-site and nearby parking for spectators, buses would likely be put on from the city centre as with the SailGP event in Lyttelton given the expected crowd numbers.

Low believed bringing the Supercars to Ruapuna would be one of the biggest events in the track’s rich history, which dated back to 1963.

He and other Canterbury Car Club officials had been inundated with messages of goodwill and support on Friday following the announcement.

The Canterbury Car Club supplied the track for the event, but the weekend was run by Supercars, the premier motorsport category in Australasia.

“I’ve been absolutely stunned by the incredible backing people have put into this. People who have volunteered their time.

“It’s been a fantastic reaction. Everybody is delighted. Not only for the club, but just for Christchurch in general. Christchurch has a massive motorsport and car following.”

Last month, Ruapuna firmed as a first-time Supercars venue, edging out Cromwell's Highlands Park. Highlands Park also put a bid in, but the Government was not willing to put extra money into Central Otago's economy.

Ruapuna is one of the few remaining club-owned and non-commercial tracks in the country. The Canterbury Car Club, supported by over 850 members, launched a 10-year strategy at the beginning of 2025 with a vision to upgrade facilities, become more sustainable and improve accessibility.

The raceway would benefit from a multimillion-dollar upgrade ahead of the event, with a community-led vision to enhance sustainability, accessibility, and facilities, including track resurfacing and a rebuilt supporters’ lounge.

Most of the upgrades ahead of the Supercars round included safety features of the track, Low said.

“There’ll be minor resurfacing and slight changes to the track and pit entry mainly. In the long-term it’s in our plan to resurface the whole track. We’ve done bits and pieces of it.”

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger, a self-confessed motorsport nut, said bringing Supercars to the city would be a boon for Christchurch’s wider tourism economy and events calendar.

“This is a massive win for Christchurch,” he said.

“Securing a Supercars event puts our city firmly on the international events map and will inject millions into our local economy — from tourism and hospitality to local jobs and infrastructure. It will help showcase the innovation and cutting edge technology that is a key part of our city.”

Ticketing details, supporting categories, and dates for the 2026 Ruapuna round would be announced in due course.