A SIGNIFICANT step in Supercars’ efforts to return to New Zealand is underway, with championship personnel heading across the ditch today.
Having already completed an on-the-ground assessment at Hampton Downs, Supercars management will inspect the other prime contender for a New Zealand race: Taupo Motorsport Park.
Owned by Tony Quinn, the Taupo track is located in the centre of the nation’s North Island – well south of Hampton Downs and Pukekohe.
Pukekohe was home to a spectacular Supercars round last September but has now closed to motorsport, leaving the likes of Shane van Gisbergen, Andre Heimgartner and Matt Payne without a home event.
Taupo has hosted top-level motorsport before, namely three years on the A1GP calendar in the late 2000s.
While there has been plenty of talk about Supercars’ ambitions of broadening its horizons by joining international Formula 1 events, it’s no secret that a New Zealand return is a high priority.
Supercars CEO Shane Howard has previously indicated an answer should start to become clear by the end of May as to whether Hampton Downs or Taupo will rejoin the calendar in 2024.
As for today’s Taupo trip, Howard said: “Currently, our focus is on finding a new racing location in New Zealand as we have progressed quite far into the process.
“Taupo and Hampton Downs are two potential circuits that could meet our requirements, and we are currently assessing Taupo with a team on-site this week.
“Given that there is no circuit in the Auckland area, we have proposed the opportunity to Major Events New Zealand, and they are currently in the process of evaluating our submission.
“Given its location in a regional area that can host major events, Taupo has been identified as a potential option, and we are exploring this avenue.
“We have a huge fan base in New Zealand and want to get back there as soon as we can to show off our Gen3 product and the best touring car category in the world.”
There is uncertainty around the future of at least two existing rounds, with the Newcastle 500 out of contract and facing stiff opposition from residents, and Albert Park.
On the flipside, Supercars has hinted at a new deal for Wanneroo Raceway.
