Race of Champions roars into Wellington for historic 2027 showdown

New Zealand's capital will play host to global motorsport royalty when the Race Of Champions (ROC) touches down at Hnry Stadium on 9–10 January 2027, marking the event's first-ever appearance in New Zealand and a blockbuster addition to the country's summer events calendar.

The 2027 Race Of Champions Wellington will bring some of motorsport’s biggest names to New Zealand, with four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, 2025 Supercars Champion and Race Of Champions Sydney 2025 runner-up Chaz Mostert, 10-time Formula 1 race winner Valtteri Bottas, and New Zealand rally star Hayden Paddon among those set to take to the track, with many more star drivers to be announced in the lead up to this spectacular event.

In a spectacular first for Wellington, the drivers will go head-to-head on a purpose-built tarmac race track inside Hnry Stadium, in identical competition cars so only drivers skill determines the winners.

Since 1988, ROC has brought together champions from Formula 1, WRC, IndyCar, NASCAR, LeMans and beyond for head-to-head racing in identical cars, settling, once and for all, who is the fastest driver on the planet. Past competitors have included Lando Norris, Valentino Rossi, Fernando Alonso, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Sebastien Loeb, Michael and Mick Schumacher, with Wellington set to welcome its own world-class field this January.

The event is backed by the New Zealand Government through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), reflecting its significance as a drawcard for domestic and international visitation during the height of New Zealand's summer season. WellingtonNZ has partnered with the event and Hnry Stadium to help deliver ROC as a centrepiece of the region's summer events programme.

"Race Of Champions is set to turn up the heat on Wellington's summer events calendar. Seeing some of the world's best drivers battle it out at Hnry Stadium will be a thrilling spectacle. This one-off event will draw motorsport enthusiasts from across New Zealand and reinforce Wellington's reputation for hosting unforgettable major events.” - Hon. Louise Upston

"We are very excited to bring the Race Of Champions to Wellington and New Zealand for the first time. This is one of the most beautiful places on earth and there is so much passion for motorsport and so many talented drivers here. It will be fascinating to see the Kiwi stars compete against some of the international superstars from F1, World Rally and more in front of their home fans." - Fredrik Johnsson, President & Co-Founder ROC

"Kiwis need to see this live, it's pure entertainment, right from your seat: a race track in a stadium! We can't wait to bring some of the biggest names in world motorsport to Wellington and give summer 2027 a moment nobody's had here before." – Rachael Carroll, TEG Sport

“Race of Champions is set to be one of Wellington’s standout summer events, bringing together an awesome lineup of motorsport stars from around the world. It’s not often we have the chance to see champions from different racing disciplines go wheel-to-wheel, making this a truly special experience. Whether you’re a lifelong motorsport fan or simply looking for an exciting summer day out, we encourage everyone – including families – to head along to Hnry Stadium and enjoy the adrenaline and atmosphere.” – Mark Oldershaw, CEO at WellingtonNZ

"Race Of Champions is a huge moment for us here at Hnry Stadium. As a truly multi-purpose venue we have an enviable track record of hosting a wide variety of incredible events - Race Of Champions takes that to a whole new level. Transforming our beloved turf into a full tarmac race circuit, hosting some of the biggest names in world motorsport for two days, will show exactly what this venue is capable of and put Wellington front of mind for major international events. We can't wait to welcome Sebastian, Valtteri, Chaz, Hayden and the rest to the drivers, and give motor sport fans from across New Zealand a summer event unlike anything they've seen before." - Warrick Dent, Hnry Stadium 

ROC Wellington will draw multiple audiences to the capital over the two-day event: dedicated motorsport fans, general sports fans looking for something different, entertainment seekers drawn to the atmosphere and activations, families with school-age children, and out-of-region visitors making a weekend of it, reinforcing Wellington's reputation as a summer destination worth travelling for.

Bringing ROC to Wellington is no small feat of engineering. When ROC staged its Southern Hemisphere debut at Sydney's Accor Stadium in 2025, crews transformed the venue's turf into a fully asphalted, side-by-side race circuit in just five days, with more than 200 staff working around the clock and over 400 semi-trailer movements delivering some 4,500 tonnes of road base and asphalt to the site.

Ticketing Information

General admission tickets for Race Of Champions Wellington 2027 will be available in four tiers, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum with single day passes starting from $49 NZD and weekend passes from $74 NZD.

Fans looking for a premium experience can also access hospitality packages including The Pavilion, Champions Lounge and the exclusive All Access experience, offering behind-the-scenes paddock access and driver Q&As.

Pre-sale registration is now open via TEG Sport website: tegsport.com.au, with pre-sale access opening Monday 21 September and general admission tickets on sale from Tuesday 22 September via Ticketek New Zealand.

Race Of Champions is proudly supported by the New Zealand Government’s one-off Events Attraction Package.

Date published: 15 September 2026