The Repco Supercars Championship’s first visit to New Zealand’s South Island left fans with fond memories from three days of racing at Ruapuna Raceway.

The inaugural Christchurch Super 440 delivered a weekend of firsts and key championship moments beginning with Friday’s opening race.

The first of four races belonged to rising star Kai Allen, who claimed a breakthrough maiden victory in his 47th start. This followed one week after Kiwi Ryan Wood secured his first career Supercars win, highlighting an exciting fortnight of action for the grid’s youngsters.

The 20-year-old made a bold strategy call to take two tyres at his compulsory stop, jumping the field before fending off heavy pressure from Brodie Kostecki and Wood.

Despite early chaos that eliminated David Reynolds in his 500th career start on the opening lap, Allen held firm to become the first Supercars winner on the South Island.

Kostecki struck back on Saturday, dominating Race 11 to claim win number five of the season and extend his championship momentum, while pit lane drama denied Matt Payne a potential victory after a loose wheel ended his charge.

Payne wasted no time in responding emphatically in Race 12, converting frustration into victory in front of a passionate home crowd.

The Kiwi driver controlled the race from the front, finishing clear of Broc Feeney and James Golding to become the sixth race winner of the campaign.

Sunday’s finale saw Payne complete a dominant turnaround, leading a historic Grove Racing one-two finish ahead of Allen.

However, Feeney’s third place proved decisive, earning him both the championship lead, as well as the coveted Jason Richards Memorial Trophy (total points scored from both Taupō and Christchurch rounds) after late issues for Wood and a costly clash involving Kostecki.

Supercars announced a total three-day attendance of more than 65,000 fans.