Supercars to celebrate 20th anniversary since first race in New Zealand

The ITM Auckland SuperSprint will return in 2021, celebrating 20 years since Supercars first raced for Championship points outside of Australia.

Discussions are continuing with New Zealand authorities on which location will host the event after 2020’s plans to race at Hampton Downs were put on hold due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The event was announced as one of the 12 events on the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship, with New Zealand fans getting the opportunity to see their favourite stars on November 6-7.

Repco Head of Sponsorship Mitch Wiley said: “Our trans-Tasman team could not be prouder of this partnership and we cannot wait to connect with the fans at all of these fantastic events throughout 2021.”

The first championship round Supercars event in history held outside of Australia was staged at Pukekohe Park on 9-11 November 2001 and like 2021, it was the penultimate round of that year’s Championship.

Legendary kiwi Greg Murphy won the event, taking pole position and winning all three races. Murphy maintained strong form at Pukekohe, winning again in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

The 2002 event contained the 500th race in championship history, which was won by Mark Skaife.

Jason Bright was the only other driver to win the event in the first five years, doing so in 2004, while Murphy finished third.

Since 2013, the driver who scores the most points across all races during the weekend has received the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.

The trophy was introduced at the 2013 event in honour of Jason Richards, a one-time New Zealand Supercars race winner and Supercars Hall of Fame member who died of cancer in 2011.

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship Calendar:

Feb 26-28: Mount Panorama 500, Bathurst, NSWMar 18-21: Melbourne, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, VICApril 10-11: Tasmania SuperSprint, Symmons Plains, TASMay 8-9: OTR SuperSprint, Tailem Bend, SAMay 29-30: Winton SuperSprint, Winton, VICJune 19-20: Darwin Triple Crown, Hidden Valley, NTJuly 9-11: NTI Townsville, Reid Park, QLDAug 20-22: Sydney SuperNight, Sydney Motorsport Park, NSWSept 11-12: Perth SuperNight, Wanneroo Raceway, WAOct 7-10: Repco Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama, NSWNov 6-7: ITM Auckland SuperSprint, NZDec 3-5: Gold Coast Street Circuit, Surfers Paradise, QLD