After years of discussion and planning, the first-ever Supercars race on the South Island of New Zealand takes place today.
The ITM Christchurch Super 440 begins today at Ruapuna Raceway, with four races scheduled over a bumper weekend of racing.
Today’s race was a late addition to the schedule, and replaces the Sunday race which was meant to be held in Taupō last weekend, where all running was cancelled due to Cyclone Vaianu.
Large crowds are expected over the weekend at Ruapuna Raceway, which was bolstered by a booming Supercars Fanfare event Thursday night on Te Pae Green.
Thousands turned out as the 24-driver field arrived via Waka on the Avon River, before a formal welcome to the city of Christchurch, and a free signing session for fans.
2024 Supercars champion Will Brown, from Toowoomba, raved about the reception, and cited the huge pressure teams will be under to start the weekend fast, with just one practice session on Friday morning.
Supercars hits the track at 9:35 a.m. for its sole practice session of the weekend. Qualifying for today’s race begins at 2:15 p.m., with the 37-lap race set to begin at 4:35 p.m.
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.
Kiwi Ryan Wood currently leads Broc Feeney in the battle for the JR Trophy, with four races to go to determine this year’s winner.
SUPERCARS TRACK SCHEDULE (TIMES NZST)
PRACTICE 1 FRI 9:35AM – 10:20AM
BOOST MOBILE QUALIFYING, RACE 10 FRI 2:15PM – 2:45PM
RACE 10 (37 LAPS) FRI 4:35PM
BOOST MOBILE QUALIFYING, RACE 11 SAT 10:05AM – 10:37AM
BOOST MOBILE QUALIFYING, RACE 12 SAT 11:00AM – 11:32AM
RACE 11(37 LAPS) SAT 12:45PM
RACE 12 (61 LAPS) SAT 4:10PM
BOOST MOBILE QUALIFYING, RACE 13 SUN 11:50AM – 12:22PM
BOOST MOBILE TOP TEN SHOOTOUT, RACE 13 SUN 12:45PM – 1:15PM
RACE 13 (37 LAPS) SUN 3:05 PM
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