New Zealand’s capital will play host to global motorsport royalty when the Race Of Champions (ROC) touches down at Hnry Stadium on 9–10 January 2027, marking the event’s first-ever appearance in New Zealand and a blockbuster addition to the country’s summer events calendar.
The 2027 Race Of Champions Wellington will bring some of motorsport’s biggest names to New Zealand, with four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, 2025 Supercars Champion and Race Of Champions Sydney 2025 runner-up Chaz Mostert, 10-time Formula 1 race winner Valtteri Bottas, and New Zealand rally star Hayden Paddon among those set to take to the track, with many more star drivers to be announced in the lead up to this spectacular event.
“It’s amazing to see one of the world’s most spectacular motorsport events come to New Zealand for the first time ever,” commented WRC driver Hayden Paddon. “New Zealand is really in a golden age of Motorsport at the moment across so many disciplines and I can’t think of a more fitting celebration of this than Hosting the Race Of Champions that attracts so many of the biggest stars from all around the world.
“This is really a once and a lifetime opportunity for Kiwi motorsport fans to get up close and personal with drivers from F1, WRC, circuit and other Motorsport forms, all battling it out in equal machinery inside one of NZ’s most famous sports stadiums. It’s really a historic event for so many reasons and I’m personally incredibly proud to be a part of it.”
Since 1988, ROC has brought together champions from Formula 1, WRC, IndyCar, NASCAR, LeMans and beyond for head-to-head racing in identical cars, settling, once and for all, who is the fastest driver on the planet. Past competitors have included Lando Norris, Valentino Rossi, Fernando Alonso, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Sebastien Loeb, Michael and Mick Schumacher, with Wellington set to welcome its own world-class field this January.
“I’m honoured to be invited back to ROC in 2027,” said Supercars driver Chaz Mostert. “It was so cool to be a last minute edition for 2025. I got to rub shoulders with some of the best race car drivers from around the world and the event was so much fun.
“Huge thank you to Fredrik and the ROC organisation for having me back and looking forward to it being in Wellington NZ as it’s a beautiful part of the world. Bring it on.”
The event is backed by the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), reflecting its significance as a drawcard for domestic and international visitation during the height of New Zealand’s summer season. WellingtonNZ has partnered with the event and Hnry Stadium to help deliver ROC as a centrepiece of the region’s summer events programme.
“Race Of Champions is set to turn up the heat on Wellington’s summer events calendar,” commented Hon. Louise Upston. “Seeing some of the world’s best drivers battle it out at Hnry Stadium will be a thrilling spectacle.
“This one-off event will draw motorsport enthusiasts from across New Zealand and reinforce Wellington’s reputation for hosting unforgettable major events.” In a spectacular first for Wellington, the drivers will go head-to-head on a purpose-built tarmac race track inside Hnry Stadium, in identical competition cars so only drivers skill determines the winners.
About Race of Champions
Race Of Champions is the ultimate head-to-head motorsport event, pitting the world’s best drivers from Formula 1, WRC, IndyCar, NASCAR and beyond against each other in identical machinery. Held annually since 1988, ROC has been staged at iconic venues including Wembley Stadium, the Stade de France and Beijing’s Bird’s Nest National Stadium.
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