01 April 2025
By ITM
Last year's sell-out ITM Taupo Super400 event was a raging success. The racing will likely be even more competitive this year with a revamped format that "will keep fans on the edge of their seats until the very last lap."
Described as the biggest shake-up to the Australian Touring Car Championship in more than half a century,
the new format with a NASCAR-style final series will "change how we crown a champion," says Supercars CEO Shane Howard.
"Our fans wanted more excitement, more unpredictability, and a true test to find the best champion. The finals series will do just that."
The series has new weekend formats that will boost the number of races from 24 to 34 over the 13-round season, increasing the total distance raced by 1200 kilometres to 6700 kilometres.
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The carnival-style atmosphere that made last year's event at Taupō so successful is set to return on Thursday, April 10, with the hugely popular Track to Town rally, where all 24 Supercars will drive from
Taupō International Motorsport Park into the town of Taupō.
Practice racing kicks off on Friday, April 11, followed by two 120km races on Saturday and a 200km marathon on Sunday, with the prestigious Jason Richards Memorial Trophy awarded to the driver who accumulates the most points across the weekend.
Over 67,000 fans attended last year's event in Taupō, and all indications are that this year's event will also be a sell-out, with eager kiwi motorsport fans rallying around to support kiwi drivers who showed great form in the opening 2025 event at Sydney Motorsport Park where three of the five kiwis secured top 10 starting positions.
In more good news for local motorsport fans, Supercars confirmed in February that it was extending its partnership with ITM to at least 2027.
"ITM has been a fantastic partner of Supercars in New Zealand for over a decade, and we are excited to continue this strong relationship through 2027," said Supercars spokesman Jamie Black.
"Their commitment to supporting motorsport has helped make our New Zealand events some of the most memorable on the calendar."
Described as the biggest shake-up to the Australian Touring Car Championship in more than half a century,
the new format with a NASCAR-style final series will "change how we crown a champion," says Supercars CEO Shane Howard.
"Our fans wanted more excitement, more unpredictability, and a true test to find the best champion. The finals series will do just that."
The series has new weekend formats that will boost the number of races from 24 to 34 over the 13-round season, increasing the total distance raced by 1200 kilometres to 6700 kilometres.
Will Brown (Winner) & Broc Feeny (2nd) hold their trophies aloft after race 8 in Taupō last year
Encouraging drivers to attack
The upped race tally is achieved by scheduling at least three races at nine of the 13 rounds, including Taupo, each with a shorter first race held on Friday or Saturday at most weekends. "By splitting the season into distinct phases, we've created a championship that tests drivers in every possible way," Supercars motorsport general manager Tim Edwards said.
"The sharp Saturday sprint races early in the season are designed to encourage drivers to attack by alleviating the need to be conservative while trying to maintain tyre life.
Fans want to see drivers pushing themselves and their cars to the absolute limit, and this format allows them to do that."
Taupō is the season's third event and part of the Sprint Cup, where competition will be particularly intense. The winner of the Sprint Cup will automatically qualify for the NASCAR-style finals series as one of the top 10 drivers.
Another sell-out crowdThe upped race tally is achieved by scheduling at least three races at nine of the 13 rounds, including Taupo, each with a shorter first race held on Friday or Saturday at most weekends. "By splitting the season into distinct phases, we've created a championship that tests drivers in every possible way," Supercars motorsport general manager Tim Edwards said.
"The sharp Saturday sprint races early in the season are designed to encourage drivers to attack by alleviating the need to be conservative while trying to maintain tyre life.
Fans want to see drivers pushing themselves and their cars to the absolute limit, and this format allows them to do that."
Taupō is the season's third event and part of the Sprint Cup, where competition will be particularly intense. The winner of the Sprint Cup will automatically qualify for the NASCAR-style finals series as one of the top 10 drivers.
The carnival-style atmosphere that made last year's event at Taupō so successful is set to return on Thursday, April 10, with the hugely popular Track to Town rally, where all 24 Supercars will drive from
Taupō International Motorsport Park into the town of Taupō.
Practice racing kicks off on Friday, April 11, followed by two 120km races on Saturday and a 200km marathon on Sunday, with the prestigious Jason Richards Memorial Trophy awarded to the driver who accumulates the most points across the weekend.
Over 67,000 fans attended last year's event in Taupō, and all indications are that this year's event will also be a sell-out, with eager kiwi motorsport fans rallying around to support kiwi drivers who showed great form in the opening 2025 event at Sydney Motorsport Park where three of the five kiwis secured top 10 starting positions.
In more good news for local motorsport fans, Supercars confirmed in February that it was extending its partnership with ITM to at least 2027.
"ITM has been a fantastic partner of Supercars in New Zealand for over a decade, and we are excited to continue this strong relationship through 2027," said Supercars spokesman Jamie Black.
"Their commitment to supporting motorsport has helped make our New Zealand events some of the most memorable on the calendar."