Supercars eyes South Island debut at Cromwell in 2026

Tony Quinn spent $20 million developing Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell. Photo / Supplied

Plans are in place to hold the first Supercars championship event in the South Island.

Yesterday, the Central Otago District Council met to briefly discuss the region hosting a Supercars event in 2026 at Highlands Motorsport Park, in Cromwell.

“It was noted that conversations with Supercars are underway and are looking favourable, but there is not any further information on this proposed event that could be shared,” the council heard.

The council doesn’t meet again until January 15.

Should the Highlands event come to fruition, it would mark the first time Supercars would hold two championship events in New Zealand in the same year.

Supercars return to Taupō from April 11-13, at the ITM Taupō Super400 with the event contracted through at least 2026.

Tony Quinn, the New Zealand-based former pet-food magnate, opened the Highlands Motor Park in 2013 and also owns Taupō International Motorsport Park.

“Supercars is constantly pursuing and evaluating opportunities to expand the sport’s reach, both in Australia and abroad. New Zealand is home to an avid motorsport fan base, as evidenced by the sell-out success of the inaugural ITM Taupō Super400 this past April, and no less than five Kiwi drivers on the current Supercars grid,” a Supercars statement said.

“There has been great interest among our stakeholders and supporters in a second Supercars event in the land of the long white cloud, which we will continue to explore alongside our ongoing efforts to sustain and grow the success of our event in Taupō.”

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship season gets underway February 21-23 with the Sydney 500 at Sydney Motorsport Park.