Historic first laps at Taupō for Gen3 Supercar

Shane van Gisbergen’s Repco Bathurst 1000-winning Chevrolet Camaro, at the hands of Tony Quinn, has become the first Gen3 Supercar to tackle Taupō.

Quinn’s laps came three months ahead of Supercars’ historic first visit to Taupō International Motorsport Park for the ITM Taupō Super400.

A major shareholder in Triple Eight Race Engineering, Quinn is also the owner of the Taupō circuit.

The Scottish-born businessman’s demonstration laps in the #97 Camaro came at the Taupō Historic GP at the Super Sprint Motorsport New Zealand Championship last weekend.

The Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship was the main competitive event of the weekend, but it was also a chance to celebrate a host of big names and famous cars.

The Red Bull Ampol Camaro was one such car, with van Gisbergen and Richie Stanaway taking out the first Great Race of the Gen3 era in the vehicle last October.

Chassis 888A-063 made its racing debut as Triple Eight's Supercheap Auto wildcard entry at Hidden Valley last June. Van Gisbergen took over the car mid-season, and duly won his third Bathurst.

For Stanaway, it was Bathurst win No. 1, which was the perfect precursor to his full-time comeback in 2024 with Penrite Racing.

The weekend also celebrated Holden legends, with Jack Perkins driving father Larry's 1993 Bathurst-winning Perkins Engineering VP Commodore.

Four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy drove the Holden Monaro 427C which he drove to victory in the 24 Hour race in 2003, while Steven Richards drove father Jim’s title-winning Nissan Skyline.

This first Holden Commodore VE to win a V8 Supercar race, by Todd Kelly in Adelaide in 2007, was also one of the attractions.

Supercars will return to New Zealand for the ITM Taupō Super400 on April 19-21. Tickets are on sale now.