Underdogs to unstoppable: Charting NZ's Supercars success
New Zealand’s impact on Supercars goes deep as far as the record books are concerned.
Aotearoa will host its first Supercars round since 2019 this weekend.
The ITM Auckland SuperSprint also doubles as the final round at Pukekohe.
Just two circuits - Pukekohe and Hamilton - have hosted championship Supercars races.
However, several drivers have made the championship their own, some becoming the most successful ever.
The last two series champions - Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin - are among the greatest of all time.
These two are NZ's most prolific
Current series leader van Gisbergen is cartwheeling towards a third title, which would bring him level with McLaughlin.
Van Gisbergen’s recent success is unprecedented, the Kiwi winning 31 times in his last 57 starts dating back to Bathurst 2020.
Before then, McLaughlin set numerous records with DJR Team Penske, winning 48 races and three titles.
New Zealand drivers have won 218 of 1112 races in ATCC/Supercars history.
Of the 218 wins, which are shared by 13 drivers, van Gisbergen and McLaughlin combine for 126.
Van Gisbergen (59 wins) and McLaughlin (50) combine for 109 of 199 victories since the former joined Triple Eight in 2016.
Jim Richards, a seven-time Bathurst winner, won a Kiwi record four championships.
Third all-time for Kiwi race winners is Greg Murphy, who will return to the commentary team this weekend.
Jim Richards won NZ's first race in 1985 Pic: AN1 Images
No driver had as prominent an impact on New Zealand’s Supercars participation than Murphy.
Murphy won Bathurst four times between 1996 and 2004, and won 28 races in his career.
While he never won a title, Murphy proved a contender in most seasons in the early 2000s.
It was at Pukekohe where Murphy did his best work, the Hastings-born driver winning nine times on home soil.
Robbie Francevic’s efforts cannot go unnoticed, Francevic winning the 1986 title aboard a Volvo at age 44.
McLaughlin is one of three drivers - along with Simon Wills and Chris Pither - to win a Super2 title.
Grove Junior teen Matt Payne, who will race in the main game in 2023, is a chance to win this year’s Super2 title.
Greg Murphy (R) was a mainstay of the 2000s
Jim Richards, Jason Richards and Stone brothers Ross and Jimmy are the only Kiwi inductees in the Supercars Hall of Fame.
Father and son duo Jim and Steven Richards combine for 12 Bathurst wins.
Jim won a whopping seven times; only Peter Brock (nine wins) won more at Mount Panorama.
Steven emerged a gun co-driver, winning with Mark Winterbottom (2013) and Craig Lowndes (2015, 2018).
Jim became the first Kiwi championship race winner at Winton aboard a BMW in 1985.
Last year, Andre Heimgartner became the 13th different New Zealander to win a race.
Will the next Kiwi Supercars star be in the Supercars paddock?
ATCC/Supercars records by New Zealand drivers*
Most titles
4: Jim Richards (1985, 1987, 1990, 1991)3: Scott McLaughlin (2018, 2019, 2020)2: Shane van Gisbergen (2016, 2021)1: Robbie Francevic (1986)
Most wins
70: Shane van Gisbergen56: Scott McLaughlin28: Greg Murphy23: Jim Richards13: Fabian Coulthard10: Steven Richards8: Paul Radisich5: Robbie Francevic1: Craig Baird, Simon Wills, Jason Richards, Richie Stanaway, Andre Heimgartner
Most Bathurst wins
7: Jim Richards5: Steven Richards4: Greg Murphy1: Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen
Most races
475: Shane van Gisbergen471: Fabian Coulthard460: Steven Richards442: Greg Murphy281: Jason Richards252: Scott McLaughlin230: Paul Radisich168: Jim Richards
Most rounds
214: Fabian Coulthard211: Shane van Gisbergen207: Steven Richards200: Greg Murphy136: Jim Richards133: Jason Richards115: Scott McLaughlin107: Paul Radisich
Most poles
76: Scott McLaughlin43: Shane van Gisbergen16: Jim Richards13: Greg Murphy9: Fabian Coulthard6: Steven Richards2: Paul Radisich, Andre Heimgartner1: Robbie Francevic, Craig Baird, Jason Richards, Chris Pither, Richie Stanaway
Race wins per decade
1980s
12: Jim Richards5: Robbie Francevic
1990s
10: Jim Richards8: Greg Murphy1: Steven Richards
2000s
20: Greg Murphy8: Paul Radisich6: Steven Richards1: Jim Richards, Jason Richards, Craig Baird, Simon Wills
2010s
43: Scott McLaughlin36: Shane van Gisbergen12: Fabian Coulthard3: Steven Richards1: Richie Stanaway
2020s
34: Shane van Gisbergen13: Scott McLaughlin1: Fabian Coulthard, Andre Heimgartner
*Correct to 2022 Penrite Oil SuperSprint
