The Repco Supercars Championship will bring racing to Christchurch from 2026, with Ruapuna Raceway set to host the first-ever Supercars event on New Zealand’s South Island – part of a groundbreaking NZ double-header.

The announcement marks a major moment for Supercars and Kiwi motorsport fans alike, as the category locks in a two-event presence in both the North and South Islands of Aotearoa from 2026-2028, ensuring racing will take place in Taupō and Ōtautahi Christchurch over the next three years.

The inclusion of Ruapuna Raceway is a milestone moment.

Just 15km west of the city, Ruapuna Raceway will bring Supercars to Christchurch – a city steeped in motorsport culture, now ready for its biggest-ever event.

Supercars CEO Shane Howard thanked the New Zealand Government, ChristchurchNZ  Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Car Club for their tireless support in making the vision a reality.

“This is an incredibly exciting day for Supercars and for fans across New Zealand,” he said.

“We’ve always wanted to race in the South Island, and thanks to the commitment of the New Zealand Government, ChristchurchNZ, Christchurch City Council and the incredible work of the Canterbury Car Club, that dream will become a reality from 2026.

“Christchurch is a motorsport city, and Ruapuna is a circuit with huge potential. This is a passionate community with a proud history, and we are thrilled to bring Supercars to the South Island for the first time.

“Since Supercars’ first visit to New Zealand in 2001, more than 2.3 million fans have attended championship events across the country and we’re thrilled to be bringing a second event to the country that makes up 20 per cent of our total audience.

“We know what Supercars means to New Zealanders. This is going to be a two-week celebration of Kiwi motorsport that will rival any on our calendar.”

The addition of Ruapuna underscores Supercars’ long-term commitment to New Zealand – currently home to five of the Championship’s brightest stars and some of its most dedicated fans.

Following a sell-out return to New Zealand in 2024 at Taupō and the success of the 2025 event that saw Kiwi Matt Payne win the coveted Jason Richards Memorial Trophy on home soil, Supercars has also confirmed that racing will continue at Taupō International Motorsport Park until at least the end of 2028.

Ruapuna Raceway will benefit from a multimillion-dollar upgrade ahead of the event, with a community-led vision to enhance sustainability, accessibility, and facilities, including track resurfacing and a rebuilt supporters’ lounge.

“For more than 20 years Supercars Championship events have played an important role showcasing our beautiful country to an international audience and I’m thrilled the South Island will now be part of this from next year,” New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Louise Upston, said.

“I’m pleased that with this investment from our Major Events Fund, New Zealand’s strong relationship with Supercars will continue in Taupo and extend to include Christchurch, with all the benefits that brings.”

Owner of Taupō International Motorsport Park, Tony Quinn, said he was rapt with the announcement.

“Locking in Supercars until 2028 is a huge vote of confidence in what we’ve built at Taupō,” Quinn said.

“From day one, we’ve wanted to make this one of the best motorsport experiences in the Southern Hemisphere, and Supercars has been a huge part of that vision. The feedback from fans, teams, and drivers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re only just getting started.

“With Taupō and now Ruapuna on the calendar, New Zealand’s motorsport scene is stepping onto the world stage like never before.”

The addition of Ruapuna joins a long list of New Zealand venues in Supercars history – alongside Pukekohe, Hamilton, and Taupō – and ensures the South Island finally gets its chance to play host to the world’s premier touring car series.

Toyota Australia has announced Supercars team Brad Jones Racing (BJR) as one of its two team partners for its entry into the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship.

BJR will race four V8-powered GR Supra Gen3 Supercars from the upcoming 2026 season under a multi-year deal agreement with Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia.

The BJR and SCT Logistics GR Supras will join the two already-announced GR Supras to be raced by homologation partner Walkinshaw Andretti United (WAU). The two WAU cars will be driven by Supercars drivers Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood, taking the total number of GR Supra supercars that will line up on the grid for 2026 to six.

Toyota Australia Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations Sean Hanley said he was thrilled to bring BJR on board as the second team to race the first GR Supra Supercar.

“We are incredibly excited to announce our new and exciting partnership with Brad Jones Racing, which has been a dedicated part of the Supercars scene for the last quarter of a century,” Hanley said.

“When I first met Brad and his team I was very impressed by their operation and the depth of experience the whole team has, as well as their commitment to fostering racing talent which aligns strongly with the Toyota Gazoo Racing approach to motorsport.

“It was a huge moment when Toyota Australia announced it will be joining the country’s premier motorsport category last September, and today’s news solidifies our line-up and racing team partners.”

Brad Jones Racing team owner Brad Jones said that that he’s thrilled to join Team Toyota in 2026.

“This is a massive moment in the history of BJR. I am very excited for what the future holds and to work closely with Toyota. Through this whole process Toyota have been incredible to work with, every step of the way I’ve been so impressed with their team and their approach to Supercars.

“This type of upheaval is not a light decision to make and I’ve taken my time in doing so, but I’ve been reassured time and time again that this is the right direction for BJR.

“I cannot wait to see our team roll-out four GR Supras in 2026, it’s going to be a ‘pinch me’ moment.”

BJR is the only current Supercars team based in regional Australia, with more than 50 staff operating a workshop and production facility in Albury on the New South Wales-Victorian border.

After racing in touring cars, stock cars and GT racing series in the 1980s and 1990s, BJR made its Supercars debut in 2000, subsequently racing Ford Falcons, Holden Commodores and Chevrolet Camaros over the course of two-and-a-half decades to build up a wealth of experience in the format.

Walkinshaw Andretti United Director Ryan Walkinshaw said he was excited to work closely with BJR for the 2026 season and beyond.

“On behalf of Walkinshaw Andretti United, we are all really pleased to see Brad Jones Racing selected to represent the GR Supra on the on the Supercars Championship grid from 2026 and look forward to working with the team closely. It will be fantastic to see six GR Supra’s line up at Round 1 next year,” he said.

The GR Supra supercar has been designed with the help of Toyota Australia’s in-house design team at Altona, using DAC and VR to develop a clay scale model which was first unveiled to the public at the 2024 Bathurst 1000.

All GR Supra supercars will be powered by specially developed version of Toyota’s 2UR-GSE all-aluminium, quad-cam V8 which has featured in multiple production performance models, and tested in the harshest racing environments under the bonnet of the 2019 Dakar-winning HiLux.

Toyota’s involvement in the Supercars Championship will not only help bolster the profile of Australia’s premier motorsport category, but also provide valuable insights for Toyota engineers in developing GR production cars.

Toyota’s support of local motorsport currently extends to the Australian Rally Championship where the TGRA Rally Team run by Neal Bates Motorsport has won the past four driver’s, co-driver’s and manufacturer’s titles. For the past ten years, it has also run the one-make 86 and GR86 racing series that now features a two-tier championship with the GR CUP and entry-level Scholarship Series that helps kickstart the careers of aspiring professional race drivers.

Further details on the GR Supra supercar will be released closer to the start of the 2026 season.