New Zealand has always had a special place in the hearts of Supercars fans and this weekend, the Repco Supercars Championship finally makes its return to New Zealand for the ITM Auckland SuperSprint.
It’s been quite some time since Supercars raced at Pukekohe with 2019 being the last time and sadly, this weekend will be the 15th and final time it makes that journey across the Tasman Sea due to the circuit’s closure in 2023.
It’s been quite a wild ride over the years, with 42 races run at Pukekohe since Supercars first started racing there back in 1996 and it’s been the Aussie drivers who have had the edge over the Kiwi counterparts, winning 26 of those races.
However, it’s the hometown heroes who have been the dominant in recent times, with Shane van Gisbergen and three-time champion Scott McLaughlin having won every race during the previous two visits – the former of which has won two rounds in New Zealand overall.
You have to go back quite a few years to find a Pukekohe race winner from the current crop of drivers who isn’t van Gisbergen - Irwin Racing’s Mark Winterbottom taking out the third of four races in the 2016 edition.
Remarkably, that was Winterbottom’s last win in the championship.
Even if the Victorian doesn’t add to his win tally this weekend, it will still be a special event for him with race three to give him the equal-third most race starts in ATCC/Supercars Championship history, joining Russell Ingall on 588.
There will be plenty of other milestones to occur over the course of the round, with both Brad Jones Racing (BJR) to make its 700th Championship start and Matt Stone Racing its 150th during Saturday’s opening race.
BJR will have more to celebrate on Sunday, with Jack Smith to reach a milestone of 100 race starts in race three.
Smith has just had two of those races in New Zealand though, however that’s more than what rookies Thomas Randle, Broc Feeney, and Will Brown have experienced with the trio to make their Supercars debut at the circuit on Friday – the former two both getting a taste of the circuit in Toyota 86 a few weeks back.
However, while there are plenty of storylines to enjoy during the 2022 Auckland SuperSprint, just embracing the round for what will be its swansong should be at the top of the list – the circuit giving fans many great memories over the years.
This year, competitors will be once again fighting for the prestigious Jim Richards Trophy and will be completing three races over the course of the weekend – one on Saturday and two on Sunday.
With rain expected to make things a little more interesting, fans can tune in via Fox Sports and Kayo all weekend, with Seven to run highlights packages each night.
Tickets for the event are still available for purchase
and can be done here.
The ITM Auckland SuperSprint takes place at Pukekohe Park Raceway on 9-11 September.
Championship Top 10
1. Shane van Gisbergen – 2493 points
2. Cameron Waters - 1993
3. Will Davison - 1974
4. Anton De Pasquale - 1971
5. Chaz Mostert - 1764
6. Broc Feeney - 1648
7. David Reynolds - 1562
8. Brodie Kostecki - 1389
9. James Courtney - 1349
10. Andre Heimgartner – 1346
Schedule
Friday 9 September
12:40pm - 1:10pm: Practice 1
Saturday 10 September
9:35am – 10:05am: Practice 2
12:00pm - 12:40pm Armor All Qualifying Race 27
2:40pm – 3:45pm: Race 27
Sunday 11 September
8:45am – 8:55am: Armor All Qualifying Race 28
9:05am – 9:15am: Armor All Qualifying Race 29
10:55am - 12:00pm: Race 28
2:10pm - 3:15pm: Race 29
*All times are AEST.
Support categories
NZ Muscle Cars
TGRA 86 Series
Historic Touring Cars
Formula Ford
Supercars Entry List
Walkinshaw Andretti United
#2 Holden Commodore ZB - Nick Percat
#25 Holden Commodore ZB - Chaz Mostert
Tim Blanchard Racing
#3 Ford Mustang - Tim Slade
Brad Jones Racing
#4 Holden Commodore ZB - Jack Smith
#8 Holden Commodore ZB - Andre Heimgartner
#14 Holden Commodore ZB - Bryce Fullwood
#96 Holden Commodore ZB - Macauley Jones
Tickford Racing
#5 Ford Mustang - James Courtney
#50 Ford Mustang - Cameron Waters
#55 Ford Mustang – Thomas Randle
#56 Ford Mustang - Jake Kostecki
Grove Racing
#10 Ford Mustang - Lee Holdsworth
#26 Ford Mustang - David Reynolds
Erebus Motorsport
#9 Holden Commodore ZB - Will Brown
#99 Holden Commodore ZB - Brodie Kostecki
Dick Johnson Racing
#11 Ford Mustang - Anton De Pasquale
#17 Ford Mustang - Will Davison
Team 18
#18 Holden Commodore ZB - Mark Winterbottom
#20 Holden Commodore ZB - Scott Pye
PremiAir Racing
#22 Holden Commodore ZB - Chris Pither
#31 Holden Commodore ZB - James Golding
Matt Stone Racing
#34 Holden Commodore ZB – Jack Le Brocq
#35 Holden Commodore ZB – Todd Hazelwood
Triple Eight Race Engineering
#88 Holden Commodore ZB - Broc Feeney
#97 Holden Commodore ZB - Shane van Gisbergen