Supercars poised to race at Highlands in 2026

[u/SouthAussie94]

https://speedcafe.com/supercars-news-highlands-motorsport-park-round-future-2026/

[u/Five_Orange77]

Lots of details to be settled but will be curious if they run these back to back in order to keep costs down for the teams (and Supercars with the freight bill - sea freight next year which is 3 weeks there and 3 weeks back.)

[u/7w4rcr4ft7 → u/Five_Orange77]

I hope for the teams sake it’s back to back

[u/bundy554 → u/7w4rcr4ft7]

It will be

[u/xvf9 → u/Five_Orange77]

Back to back would mean splitting the domestic NZ crowds to some extent. Wouldn’t be surprised if Taupo has a clause in their contract that there’s no other NZ race within a month either side, for example. Maybe they could market it as a one off NZ mega-event and try to sell packages to both events. Could see NZ tourism tipping in more cash if it would get punters over from Aus for a two week holiday. 

[u/Five_Orange77 → u/xvf9]

Quinn owns both tracks (and is the promoter) so no real problems there. But, can the country support two events close together, despite them being quite a fair way apart. And will the NZ tourism board help out? Taupo was able to get the Auckland funding that was used for Pukekohe.

[u/xvf9 → u/Five_Orange77]

Would assume there’s heavy buy in from the local governments and there’d be clauses attached to that. Like how the NSW government funding means the opening race has to be in NSW. Similarly you’d think the local funding for Taupo would have clauses about it being separate from other NZ events. Nothing that couldn’t be renegotiated I’m sure…

[u/Mithster18 → u/xvf9]

They would be split, but you would also get people potentially travelling for both events, people closer to the second event (hopefully not Hampton Downs) rather than having to take two flights for $300/$400 and hiring a rental car, vs say driving from Invercargill to Cromwell.

[u/kiwichris1709]

Ooooh.

I have thoughts/concerns.

1 - I always thought one of the big issue with this place was broadcasting live, because of all the slightly small hills around. Maybe that’s not much of a concern any more.

2 - track layout is spectacular but I don’t think it leads to the best racing, one too many chicanes for my liking.

3 - spectator facilities and pit facilities will be very temporary - it is billed as a private club as much as anything, right?

4 - they would want to get the date right. Between May - August is probably very much a no go cause potential for snow.

[u/LMRacingGuru02 → u/kiwichris1709]

Imagine a snowy Supercars race.

[u/reborndiajack → u/LMRacingGuru02]

Snow chains lesgo

[u/LMRacingGuru02 → u/reborndiajack]

That would be something

[u/Mithster18 → u/kiwichris1709]

1 - It's probably just the logistics of getting the circus down here, have to fly everything to CH and then drive.

2 - I've heard it is quite hard to pass there because of tight and twisty.

3- Having been to a couple of races there, there's GA Access for Corners 1-2/3, 12-10 and 20-21. You can the see majority of the track from 20-21 and 1/2, with the latter being a prime location for grandstands to be erected. Pit Facilities are temp gazeebo's, but there is accom on site for high up people Photos

4 - Even in summer there has been snowfall on the hills. it even snowed to the ground in November, Cromwell is slightly further south than tazzie.

[u/xvf9]

From what little I’ve seen at Highlands this will look really cool, quali should be epic, but I can’t imagine much overtaking given it’s so flowing and narrow. Any who’s watched more racing there think different?

[u/LittleOne0121 → u/xvf9]

Not really, the NZGP is usually pretty good but those cars are significantly smaller than a supercar. A few passing spots but we’ll be lucky to get an action packed race.

[u/MacrosNZ → u/xvf9]

There are a couple of places to pass. The section before the bridge and also the hairpin in the forest. The last corner before pit entry can see some action as well. But yeah, half the track is hard to pass.

[u/kako-si]

Might sound dumb but is there a car carrier similar to the Spirit of Tasmania that could take the transporters over there for the month? It’d probably be a way to big exercise, but it’d be cool.

[u/madmaper_13 → u/kako-si]

There is no ferry to NZ, it is longer distance then any car ferry in the world

[u/jsw11984 → u/kako-si]

The Ro/Ro car carriers that ship cars to both Australia and New Zealand from Japan could do it, only problem is they don’t normally run JP-AU-NZ-JP not calling back into Australia on the return leg.

I’m sure they would depending on the money though.

[u/mynameisnotphoebe]

I just cannot comprehend this working out - there’s not even pit garages! So much work would have to be done to make it work. There’s a tiny carpark (the local paddocks work, I guess) and a handful of good viewing spots, but the pit straight doesn’t even have fencing.

I say all of this, but I would actually be pretty cool to have Highlands included. Hampton Downs is a fun idea but we’d basically have to close SH1 to make it work.

[u/MAKA427]

Epic! I would be curious to see what layout they would use.

[u/MrDiamond365]

Still waiting for the pre covid Hampton Downs event

[u/443610]

Still no Hampton Downs?