Wellington to Host first ever Race Of Champions in New Zealand
Updated: 23 hours ago
New Zealand's capital will host global motorsport royalty when the Race Of Champions touches down at Hnry Stadium on 9–10 January 2027 — the event's first-ever appearance in New Zealand, and a blockbuster addition to the country's summer events calendar.
The Race Of Champions in Wellington will bring some of motorsport's biggest names to New Zealand. Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, 2025 Supercars Champion and ROC Sydney 2025 runner-up Chaz Mostert, 10-time Formula 1 race winner Valtteri Bottas and New Zealand rally star Hayden Paddon are among those set to take to the track, with many more star drivers to be announced in the lead-up to the event.
In a first for Wellington, the drivers will go head-to-head on a purpose-built tarmac circuit inside Hnry Stadium, in identical competition cars — so only driver skill determines the winner.
Past ROC competitors have included Lando Norris, Valentino Rossi, Fernando Alonso, David Coulthard, Mika Häkkinen, Sébastien Loeb, and both 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 visitors during the height of the New Zealand summer. WellingtonNZ has partnered with the event and Hnry Stadium to deliver ROC as a centrepiece of the region's summer events programme.
"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, Race Of Champions
"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." Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston
"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, Chief Executive, 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
“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. 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.” Sebastian Vettel 4-time Formula 1 World Champion, Race Of Champions “Champion of Champions” 2015, 7-time ROC Nations Cup Champion
“Race Of Champions is such a special and exciting event and I’m so happy that it’s back again. I can’t wait to compete in Wellington, New Zealand, with all the other drivers from different categories, racing on the same track, in different types of cars, which makes ROC really spectator friendly. ROC New Zealand is going to be another exciting race with great atmosphere both for us drivers and the fans. Also personally I feel it’s really good to drive something during the off-season and there is no better place to do it than at ROC, so I’m really looking forward to January!” Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Formula 1 Team driver, 10-time F1 Grand Prix Winner
“I’m honoured to be invited back to ROC in 2027. It was so cool to be a last minute edition for 2025. I got to rub shoulders with some of the best race car drivers from around the world and the event was so much fun. Huge thank you to Fredrik and the ROC organisation for having me back and looking forward to it being in Wellington NZ as it’s a beautiful part of the world. Bring it on.” Chaz Mostert, 2025 Supercars Champion and 2025 Race Of Champions runner-up
“It’s amazing to see one of the world’s most spectacular motorsport events come to New Zealand for the first time ever. 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. This is really a once and a lifetime opportunity for Kiwi motorsport fans to get up close and personal with drivers from F1, WRC, circuit and other Motorsport forms, all battling it out in equal machinery inside one of NZ’s most famous sports stadiums. It’s really a historic event for so many reasons and I’m personally incredibly proud to be a part of it.” Hayden Paddon 7x New Zealand Rally Champion and Overall Runner-up Paraguay WRC 2026
Tickets
General admission tickets for Race Of Champions Wellington in January 2027 will be available in five tiers — Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Start/Finish line — 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, the 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 Ticketek New Zealand, with pre-sale access opening Monday 21 September and general admission tickets on sale from Tuesday 22 September.
