Mark your calendars! Supercars has announced it will be returning to New Zealand for the 2024 ITM Taupo SuperSprint from April 19 to 21.
The announcement was made at Taupo International Motorsport Park today by the Government which confirmed $5 million in funding towards the next three years of the event.
“Ever since the first championship event here in 2001, Supercars has become one of New Zealand’s largest attended annual sporting events,” says New Zealand Major Events Manager Kylie Hawker-Green.
“After a year’s hiatus, we are excited to be able to help reconnect the tens of thousands of fans from across New Zealand with their favourite teams and drivers, as well as welcome thousands of Australian visitors to Taupo and the surrounding regions.”
When Supercars takes to the 3.32km-long International Circuit configuration next year, it will be the 35th different venue to host a race.
Taupo will also become the third track that the series has competed at on home soil, with it joining the likes of the Hamilton Street Circuit and the now-shuttered Pukekohe Park Raceway.
Drivers will once again be competing for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, named after the late Kiwi Supercars’ Hall of Fame inductee who contested 113 rounds and 284 races in his decorated career.
Among the list of drivers confirmed to compete for the title in 2024 will be four New Zealand hopes including current Supercars Auckland-born duo of two-time race winner Andre Heimgartner and rising star Matt Payne. Wellington’s Ryan Wood will be a popular rookie in NZ in 2024 as well as high-profile Aucklander Richie Stanaway, who returns to the grid full-time next year with Grove Racing.
Also underway are discussions with local support categories that will fill the undercard to ensure three memorable days of on-track action at Taupo.
Supercars CEO Shane Howard said tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks, with grandstand availabilities still being finalised for Taupo.
“We had an incredible response to the announcement earlier this month and as a result, we’re trying to ensure we cover all options for ticketing before we go on sale,” says Howard.
“We anticipate having grandstand, general admission, corporate, and other ticketing options confirmed and on sale in just a few weeks’ time.
“The venue is incredible. To think that in just over 200 days this entire venue will be filled with fans as Supercars race here is very exciting.”
