Kiwi driver Andre Heimgartner has won the first ITM Taupō Super400 - a popular result for the return of the Supercars Championship to New Zealand.
Before the race, Taupō International Motorsport Park owner Tony Quinn told the NZ Herald “It’s Taupō weather, don’t worry about it.”
The town’s panel beaters must have nodded in agreement as the inaugural race got off to a bumpy start with the first three cars off the grid taking up space meant for two in the run to the first corner.
Pole sitter Cam Waters, Tim Slade, and championship leader Will Brown squeezed into each other off the start line, triggering the crash. Brown emerged unscathed in the lead of the race after starting second.
Young stars Broc Feeney and Kiwi hero Matt Payne also spun out at Turn 1.