Race Of Champions 2027 in Wellington: A Historic Motorsport Event
Motorsport’s travelling all‑stars are heading to Wellington, with the Race Of Champions confirmed for a first‑ever New Zealand staging in 2027.
Hnry Stadium will be transformed on January 9 and 10, a purpose‑built tarmac circuit laid inside the famous “Cake Tin” as some of the biggest names in global racing go head‑to‑head.
At the front of the grid: four‑time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel and current F1 driver for Cadillac, Valtteri Bottas. Local fans will also have a home hero to roar for, with Kiwi rally ace Hayden Paddon locked in for the event.
Vettel gets his wish
Vettel has long made it clear New Zealand left a mark on him. A brief stopover before ROC Sydney was enough.
“Before ROC Sydney I went for a first quick visit to New Zealand and was blown away by the beauty of the country, so I told the organisers jokingly can you pls bring the next ROC to New Zealand,” he said.
Now that throwaway line has turned into a full‑blown international showpiece.
“I am really looking forward to competing against so many other Champions from across the globe at the Race Of Champions in Wellington in January and get a chance to visit more of New Zealand.”
For Wellington, it means one of the sport’s most decorated modern drivers racing in its backyard, under lights, on a made‑to‑measure circuit.
Paddon at the heart of a homecoming
If Vettel brings the star power, Paddon brings the heartbeat. The rally specialist, who has carried the New Zealand flag around the world, did not hide what this means.
“It’s amazing to see one of the world’s most spectacular motorsport events come to New Zealand for the first time ever,” he said.
“New Zealand is really in a golden age of Motorsport at the moment across so many disciplines and I can’t think of a more fitting celebration of this than hosting the Race Of Champions that attracts so many of the biggest stars from all around the world.
“It’s really a historic event for so many reasons and I’m personally incredibly proud to be a part of it.”
He will not go into battle alone. Organisers are yet to confirm Paddon’s teammate for Team New Zealand, but the wish list is pure box office.
Liam Lawson, NASCAR’s Shane van Gisbergen and IndyCar stars Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin are among the names being targeted to line up alongside him. Any one of them would turn the local entry into a serious threat.
Stadium to circuit in a week
The transformation of Hnry Stadium will be rapid. As soon as Wellington Phoenix wrap up their A‑League clash with Newcastle Jets on January 2, the football lines will give way to apexes and braking zones.
Construction of the ROC circuit begins immediately after full-time, with organisers racing the clock to have the layout ready for the world’s best just a week later.
Tourism and hospitality minister Louise Upston expects the payoff to be just as quick.
“This one-off event will draw motorsport enthusiasts from across New Zealand and reinforce Wellington's reputation for hosting unforgettable major events,” she said.
The city, already known for its rugby and football nights, now gets the chance to add high‑octane duels to its event portfolio.
Tickets and the rush to be there
Demand will be fierce. Day passes start from $49, with weekend tickets from $74, pitching the event as accessible as well as elite.
Registration for pre‑sale tickets is already open. Those who sign up gain first access when pre‑sale opens on Monday, September 21, before general admission follows on Tuesday, September 22.
By then, more drivers will have been revealed, the grid will start to take shape, and Wellington will know exactly which global stars are about to turn its “Cake Tin” into a cauldron of noise.
The only real question left: when the lights go out in January 2027, whose name will New Zealand be chanting the loudest?
