Taupo to offer big Sprint Cup insight
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 9 April 2025
This weekend’s Taupo Super440 will be the first glimpse of the format that will define the inaugural Supercars Sprint Cup.
Five of the remaining six Sprint Cup rounds will utilise the Super440 format with Townsville the only exception.
It sees more racing on show with three races on mixed tyre compounds throwing up numerous variables offering the first taste of the new Super Soft tyre.
Friday will be quiet with just a pair of 30 minute practice sessions giving teams a chance to understand the new compound and patchy track surface, which debuted just last year.
But Saturday will be busy with the two-part qualifying sessions followed by back to back 120km sprints with one each on the Soft and Super Soft tyres.
On Sunday strategy will become a greater factor across the longer 200km main event on the Soft tyre where the grid is set by a three-part session followed by a Shootout.
Unlike last year where Saturday’s race was the wettest seen in New Zealand since Hamilton 2011, rain is not set to play a factor this weekend with Friday the highest chance of just 20 percent, while sunshine and cool temperatures are set for the weekend.
Team 18 veteran David Reynolds is looking forward tackling the format.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Taupo,” he said.
“Last year we had good speed at times but just not when it counted, and we had a mechanical failure in the last race which hurt.
“The format’s different this year with three races and the mixed tyre compounds, so it’ll be a bit of a lucky dip, especially with the Super Softs, which no one has run yet this year, but if you’ve got good balance in the car, you should be able to convert between compounds okay.
“Hopefully the weather’s a bit kinder to us this time – last year it was freezing and wet – but either way, it’s going to be a fun event.”
The support categories will all be local favourites Toyota 86 Championship New Zealand, Central Muscle Cars and Super V8s.
Image: Peter Norton Epic Sports Photography
2025 Taupo Super440 schedule (times in AEST)
Friday, April 11
8.10-8.30: Super V8s Practice 1
8.40-9.00: Toyota 86 NZ Practice 1
9.10-9.30: Central Muscle Cars Practice
9.45-10.15: Supercars Practice 1
10.30-10.50: Super V8s Practice 2
11.20-11.40: Toyota 86 NZ Practice 2
11.55-12.15: Central Muscle Cars Qualifying
12.30-13.00: Supercars Practice 2
13.10-13.30: Super V8s Qualifying
13.40-14.00: Toyota 86 NZ Qualifying
14.10: Central Muscle Cars Race 1 (10 laps)
Saturday, April 12
7.50: Super V8s Race 1
8.25-8.55: Supercars Race 8 Qualifying
9.05-9.35: Supercars Race 9 Qualifying
10.00: Toyota 86 NZ Race 1 (8 laps)
10.50: Supercars Race 8 (37 laps)
12.30: Super V8s Race 2 (10 laps)
13.00: Central Muscle Cars (8 laps)
14.05: Supercars Race 9 (37 laps)
Sunday, April 13
7.25: Toyota 86 NZ Race 2 (8 laps)
7.55: Central Muscle Cars Race 3 (10 laps)
8.35-9.05: Supercars Race 10 Qualifying
9.20: Toyota 86 NZ Race 3 (8 laps)
10.15: Super V8s Race 3 (10 laps)
10.50-11.35: Supercars Race 10 Top 10 Shootout
12.00: Central Muscle Cars Race 4 (8 laps)
13.05: Supercars Race 10 (61 laps)
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