Christchurch is set to roar back onto the international motorsport stage following confirmation that the Repco Supercars Championship will return to the city for the first time since 2004.

In 2026, Ruapuna Motorsport Park will host a round of the prestigious series, joining Taupō International Motorsport Park to give Aotearoa two championship rounds in one season – a first for New Zealand.

The event is projected to inject $10 million into the local economy and attract around 20,000 visitors, creating an estimated 38,000 visitor nights, according to ChristchurchNZ.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger welcomed the announcement, saying in a Repco motorsport press release: “Bringing Supercars back to Christchurch is fantastic news. We know motorsport fans will be revved up to see this event on their doorstep, and it will be a great addition to our city’s growing calendar of major events.”

Karena Finnie, ChristchurchNZ Head of Major Events, said the race will be “a huge win for Christchurch” and “bring even more excitement to our diverse sporting line-up.”

The Government is also backing the event through the Major Events Fund, investing $5.9 million to support Supercars races in Taupō and Christchurch over the next three years.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says the Christchurch round will “showcase our beautiful country to an international audience” and encourage visitors to extend their stays across both events.

Ruapuna’s selection reflects Supercars’ continued international growth. Only nine Supercars seasons have featured multiple international rounds.

For Christchurch, the event also offers a long-term boost to infrastructure.

Euromarque Motorsport park (Ruapuna) will undergo a multimillion-dollar upgrade ahead of 2026, led by the Canterbury Car Club.

Planned improvements include track resurfacing, upgraded facilities and enhanced sustainability features.

Finnie says the upgrades will create “a fantastic city legacy, one the local community will be able to enjoy for years to come.”

The announcement has also sparked excitement within the UC Motor Society (Motosoc).

Club Vice President Josh Carlile and Sponsorship Representative Nicholas McIntosh said the overall reaction from members was very positive, with “a mixture of pleasant surprise, excitement for the future, and speculation over what futureproofing and developments would be coming to Ruapuna to support the series.”

“I think this announcement is significant to motorsport fans at UC and students across the South Island,” they added.

“A series with international recognition coming to Ruapuna means these groups can support their favourite teams and get in contact with incredible drivers and personnel. It goes towards ensuring that motorsport will continue in the region and that the local track might be saved from the fate Pukekohe has faced.”

The club is also looking forward to the opportunities the event might bring.

“For Motosoc, it will hopefully mean discounted tickets or some integration into the wider motorsport sphere for those interested,” McIntosh and Carlile said.

“Large events and easy access should hopefully open doors for our members to break into their areas of passion.”

They also see the potential for Supercars to broaden the student motorsport culture on campus.

“In engineering degrees, there’s already a motorsport culture, but a Supercars race at Ruapuna will make more people across UC aware of the fanbase here and of motorsport in general,” they said.

As upgrades and preparations get underway, the road to 2026 promises to bring new energy to the city’s motorsport scene.

For Christchurch fans and UC students alike, the countdown is on for the return on Supercars.

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