Van Gisbergen, Heimgartner launch Pukekohe round

Shane van Gisbergen and Andre Heimgartner have returned to their native New Zealand to begin the countdown to the ITM Auckland SuperSprint.

The Kiwi drivers were on hand in Auckland to launch Supercars’s first international round since 2019.

The popular Pukekohe Park Raceway hosted Supercars’ first international event in 2001, which was won by Greg Murphy.

Four-time Bathurst winner Murphy will feature as part of the commentary team at the event.

Murphy will make a comeback to pit lane reporting, and will also race an historic Ford Sierra at the September 9-11 event.

It will mark more crucial laps for Murphy ahead of his long-awaited Repco Bathurst 1000 start on October 9.

The 2019 Auckland round drew a crowd of 113,999 fans.

Van Gisbergen and Heimgartner in Auckland

Supercars will be on track on all three days of the event, including Friday practice, qualifying and a race on Saturday and two races on Sunday.

The ITM Auckland SuperSprint will also feature the Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series, Central Muscle Cars, Historics and Formula Ford.

Van Gisbergen and Heimgartner have been regulars on Supercars podiums in 2022, with the former the points leader.

Two-time champion van Gisbergen is the defending Jason Richards Memorial Trophy winner, and has won six races at Pukekohe.

"We haven’t raced for it for a couple of years," van Gisbergen said of the Richards Trophy.

"I’ve been lucky enough to win it twice... it’s one of the coolest feelings you get."

Auckland-born van Gisbergen is the second most successful Kiwi driver on home soil behind Murphy.

Murphy won a Pukekohe-record nine races, including six of the first eight.

Van Gisbergen and Heimgartner will also be hoping to lead the charge for Holden, which will make its final Pukekohe starts in September.

Pukekohe last hosted Supercars in 2019

Heimgartner, another Auckland-born driver, will complete his 500th career lap of Pukekohe this year, and has never won on home soil in a Supercar.

The Brad Jones Racing driver is having one of the best years of his career; Heimgartner is currently on a streak of 11 consecutive top 10 race finishes.

Commodores have won a staggering 34 of 42 races at Pukekohe, including 21 of the first 22.

The Commodore will be replaced on the grid by the Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro in 2023.

Supercars CEO Shane Howard said: "I would like to thank Tātaki Auckland Unlimited for their ongoing and unwavering support for the ITM Auckland SuperSprint.

"We have passionate kiwi fans who are keen to see their favourite stars racing on home soil once again in the best touring car category.

"We’re thrilled to have Murph on board as part of the event and he will no doubt gain plenty of attention from fans across the weekend.

"We can’t wait to get there and once again put on a show for the fans at Pukekohe."

Tickets for both events can be purchased now through Supercars.com and Ticketek.