Three cars wiped out in dramatic start to Christchurch opener

The first ever Supercars race in Christchurch has been struck by high drama just seconds after lights went out, with three cars implicated in a bizarre incident.

Milestone man David Reynolds, along with Brad Jones Racing drivers Cameron Hill and Macauley Jones, were involved in a dramatic incident off the start.

Brodie Kostecki got the jump on pole-sitter Matt Payne, who dropped to fourth behind Ryan Wood and Penrite Racing teammate Kai Allen.

Jones and Reynolds collided as cars ran down to Turn 1 for the first time, with Hill hit by the spinning cars.

Reynolds and Hill were forced into pit lane with significant front right damage to their respective cars, with Jones serviced and sent back out into the race.

Bizarrely, yellow flags and Safety Car boards flew through the opening corners, despite no call of Safety Car being made. Drivers slowed accordingly, before continuing at race speed towards the end of the lap.

The start incident was noted by Race Control, but it did little to bring smiles to the faces of those down at Team 18 or BJR, who were immediately forced into repairs.

For Reynolds, it was a bitter blow on what was a milestone occasion, the Team 18 veteran's 500th Supercars race struck down by disaster just seconds in.

"I got an average start, I was just driving along," said Reynolds, who launched from 18th.

"Then some guy spun in front of us... it was all happening.

"The car's a bit damaged, we'll try and get it out and do some laps. It's just a write-off, isn't it."

BJR returned Hill to the race with nine laps remaining.