The 2024 Thrifty Bathurst 500 at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, Australia. All 24 Supercars drivers will descend on Taupo's CBD next month. Photo / Kass Brumley
The 2024 Thrifty Bathurst 500 at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, Australia. All 24 Supercars drivers will descend on Taupo's CBD next month. Photo / Kass Brumley
Taupō will be roaring next month as all 24 Supercars descend on the town’s CBD ahead of the ITM Taupō Super400.
On April 18, the cars and drivers will convoy from the Taupō International Motorsport Park to Taupō’s lakeside precinct as part of a special Track to Town event.
For the event, Supercars drivers will take their Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Mustangs from the circuit on an 8.6km journey which will culminate in a display and autograph session near the #Lovetaupō sign.
The convoy is set to depart the motorsport park at 3.45pm and fans are invited to line the streets along the route to capture the Supercars in action ahead of the opening practise.
Taupō mayor David Trewavas said it was going to be a “wonderful” event.
Trewavas added that the event would also have a positive effect on the surrounding regions including Hawke’s Bay and King Country.
Supercars Chief Operating Officer Tim Watsford said he, too, was excited for the event.
“We are sincerely grateful to the Taupō District Council for their unwavering support in making this unique event possible.
“The Track to Town journey is an exciting project that brings the Supercars experience right to the heart of Taupō, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to showcase our sport in such a vibrant community.
”We invite fans to join us at the live site and at vantage points along the way, as Supercars take to the streets against the breathtaking backdrop of Taupō.”
The five Kiwi Supercars drivers Ryan Wood, Jaxon Evans, Andre Heimgartner, Richie Stanaway and Matt Payne at Taupo International Motorsport Park. Photo / Mark Horsburgh
Following the Track to Town event, there will be two nights of concerts at the Great Lake Centre.
The ITM Taupō Super400 will see Supercars as well as various support categories including Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, NZ Central Muscle Cars, Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series NZ and Formula Ford NZ, race on the 3.32km International Circuit configuration.
Drivers will be competing for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy, named after the late Kiwi Supercars Hall of Fame inductee who contested 113 rounds and 284 races during his career.
Supercars has secured the Taupō round in collaboration with the New Zealand Government and Taupō District Council for at least the next three years.
