More early looks at Taupō for Supercars drivers

The majority of the grid have now had a look at Supercars’ newest circuit ahead of the inaugural ITM Taupō Super400.

Taupō International Motorsport Park will become the 35th different circuit to host an ATCC/Supercars Championship event on April 19-21.

However, the past fortnight has been used by several drivers and teams to get a sneak peek of the 3.32km layout, which will host two 200km races.

In the days after the Melbourne SuperSprint, the likes of Tim Slade and James Golding (PremiAir Nulon Racing), Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale (Shell V-Power Racing Team), and Jaxon Evans (Brad Jones Racing) all hit the track.

This week, Erebus Motorsport duo Jack Le Brocq and Todd Hazelwood, and Team 18 teammates Mark Winterbottom and David Reynolds, have also touched down in Taupō.

Rising Kiwi stars Ryan Wood (Walkinshaw Andretti United) and Matt Payne (Penrite Racing), as well as reigning Bathurst 1000 winner Richie Stanaway, have also visited the circuit.

Ahead of his maiden home Supercars event, Wood will get extra mileage this week with a rookie test day at Winton Motor Raceway.

Championship leaders, Red Bull Ampol Racing teammates Will Brown and Broc Feeney, also hit the track where the team's 2023 Bathurst-winning Gen3 Camaro rolled out in January.

While the purpose of the visits have helped drivers acquaint themselves with their latest battleground, drivers have also caught up with Taupō members, and completed laps in various cars.

Notably, Evans, De Pasquale, Davison, Slade and Golding got behind the wheel of a Toyota 86, while others completed slalom challenges in Mazda MX-5s.

Legendary Kiwi driver Greg Murphy, meanwhile, also got on track in a Swift DB4.

Saturday and Sunday general admission and grandstand tickets have sold out, with limited tickets available for Friday.