Kiwi Supercars stars entered in speedway event

A host of Supercars talent, led by Greg Murphy, will take to the speedway in New Zealand in the name of charity.

Murphy, Richie Stanaway and current Brad Jones Racing driver Andre Heimgartner have entered in the Valvoline Superstock Charity Invitational.

The two-day event will be held at TWS Paradise Valley Speedway in Rotorua on December 16-17.

The event will help raise funds for The Starship Foundation and Ronald McDonald House.

The stockcar category — organised by the Rotorua Stockcar Club — sees drivers grapple 1500kg speedway-style cars.

The Supercars trio will be joined by the likes of ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddett, Chris van der Drift, Simon Evans and Brendon Hartley.

Hartley won this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans outright, and raced in Formula 1 in 2018 for Toro Rosso.

Murphy and Stanaway were coaxed out of retirement and raced at this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000.

NZ stockcars Pic: Sportsweb Photography

They finished a standout 11th after Stanaway qualified a shock fifth.

Heimgartner is the only full-time Supercars driver in the field, and is back home after a solid first season with BJR.

The 27-year-old finished 10th overall, having scored podiums at Perth, Winton and Pukekohe.

It comes after Shane van Gisbergen was confirmed for a competitive speedway debut at Baypark Speedway.

Cam Waters will also return to Victorian speedways this summer.

"Any time I can come back to NZ and race, even if it's in a lawn mower. I jump at the opportunity,” Heimgartner said.

"It's been 10 years since I last raced on dirt, so I'm looking forward to the challenge and supporting a great charity.”

The Rotorua venue was a local haunt for Stanaway, who was excited to race in the name of charity.

"I can’t wait to take part in this event, Paradise Valley was my home track growing up,” the 31-year-old said.

“It’s been 15 years since I last raced there so it will be nice to return to the roots and for such a great cause.”

Murphy, who made his final Bathurst start in October, added: "The last time I drove a Super Stock was at Huntly in 2005, so been a while.

"Really looking forward to having another crack and getting out on the track with some mates from a bunch of other motorsport disciplines.

"The Rotorua venue is bloody awesome and the event is obviously going to be raising some dollars for a couple of incredible charities."

TWS Superstocks, PTS Superstocks, Superstocks, Saloons and Stockcar Teams Racing will race on the Saturday.

Sunday’s action will again feature Superstocks, Saloons, and Ministocks - Invited.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at this link.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle next March.

Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.