Supercars Records Historic Attendance at Inaugural Christchurch Super 440

Supercars has announced a record-breaking attendance of 65,806 for the inaugural ITM Christchurch Super 440, marking the largest event ever held at Ruapuna Raceway.

The three-day carnival, which concluded on 19 April 2026, represented a triumphant debut for the Repco Supercars Championship on New Zealand’s South Island, following a multi-year effort to bring the category to the region.

The weekend saw a total sell-out for both Saturday and Sunday, while Friday’s attendance exceeded expectations due to a revised schedule.

Following the unprecedented cancellation of the Sunday session at the ITM Taupō Super 440 due to the impact of Cyclone Vaianu, Supercars officials relocated Race 10 to the Friday in Christchurch. This adjustment created the first-ever “triple-threat” race weekend in the South Island, contributing to a combined ITM NZ Double Header attendance of 95,368.

Expressing satisfaction with the local reception, Supercars chair and interim chief executive, Barclay Nettlefold, said: “The passion, devotion and knowledge of the fans here at Ruapuna has blown us away.”

“A South Island race has been a long time coming and we thank everyone who came here over these special three days for bringing it to life.

“We’re working closely with our hosts, the Canterbury Car Club, to make this experience even bigger and better next year,” Nettlefold said. 

Highlighting the event’s significant contribution to the local economy and motorsport culture, Christchurch Mayor, Phil Mauger, added: “This weekend has been amazing for our city and local motorsport community.”

“We are thrilled to give Supercars a home here in Christchurch and include this world-class event in our calendar,” Mauger said. 

On-Track Highlights and Commercial Success

The racing mirrored the intensity of the crowd, with local and international stars sharing the podium:

• Friday (Race 10): Kai Allen (Grove Racing) secured his first-ever Supercars victory, expertly managing a rescheduled 37-lap sprint.
• Saturday (Race 11): Brodie Kostecki (Dick Johnson Racing) claimed a dominant victory, further solidifying his position in the championship standings.
• Sunday (Race 12): Kiwi star Matt Payne (Penrite Racing) sent the home crowd into a frenzy with a dominant win, finishing over 11 seconds ahead of the field.

The prestigious Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, awarded to the driver who accumulated the most points across both the Taupō and Christchurch rounds, was claimed by Broc Feeney (Triple Eight Race Engineering). Feeney’s consistency across the New Zealand fortnight secured him the points lead as the championship returns to Australia.

The Repco Supercars Championship will now return to Australia for the Tyrepower Tasmania Super 440, scheduled for 22–24 May 2026.

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