Home at last for proud Kiwi Pither

This weekend’s round in New Zealand carries extra weight for Chris Pither, who has finally headed home.

Pukekohe Park Raceway will host this weekend’s ITM Auckland SuperSprint.

It is the first New Zealand round since 2019, and Pither’s first on home soil since 2016.

The PremiAir Racing driver made his long-awaited return home last week.

Pither is one of three local drivers, along with Auckland-born Shane van Gisbergen and Andre Heimgartner.

Palmerston North native Pither hadn’t been to New Zealand since before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The Kiwi has since become a father, with daughter Audrey born in September 2020.

The build-up to Pukekohe has included introducing Audrey to family in what has been a “special” time home.

"It is good to be back in my home country,” Pither said.

“I made the trip across the ditch a week early with my family which was nice.

"I’ve missed a few family milestones, like Gran’s 90th, and my daughter Audrey will share her second birthday with family who are yet to meet her.

"This is the first-time home since COVID-19, so that will be special.”

Pither will have a new engineer this weekend, with Geoffrey Slater shifting to James Golding’s car.

The New Zealander is no stranger to Pukekohe, having watched Greg Murphy from the stands in 2001.

Pither raced for Super Black Racing in 2016, which are his only Supercar starts at Pukekohe.

Pither last raced in NZ in 2016

Given this weekend's round is Pukekohe's last Supercars event, Pither is determined to put on a show in front of friends and family.

“I am definitely excited to race at Pukekohe, being my home event,” he said.

"My first Supercars experience was at Pukekohe in 2001, where I raced in the Formula Ford support event.

"There I watched home hero Greg Murphy dominate the round, and that is where my passion and desire to race Supercars grew.

“I raced at Pukekohe regularly in my junior years from Formula First to HQ Holdens.

"The track is certainly a favourite - it is fast, it requires big commitment and always creates exciting racing.

“Given it is the final time Supercars will race at Pukekohe, I feel grateful to take part and I am aiming high.

"I’ve got a lot of support from my fellow kiwis, so I look forward to putting on a good show."