Christchurch, New Zealand4.7 (644 Google reviews)Next: 2026 Wigram Revival, 27 to 29 November 2026
Ruapuna is the Canterbury Car Club's circuit at Templeton, on the western edge of Christchurch. Club volunteers opened it in 1963, and in 2026 it held Supercars' first South Island round. Through the year it runs club racing, historic meetings like the Wigram Revival, drag racing and drift days.
The club lists two permanent grandstands with about 1,200 seats between them: the Bruce McLaren Grandstand on the main straight, and the Denny Hulme Grandstand, which looks over the back of the circuit. There's also terraced seating, a viewing lounge with a balcony at the start and finish line, and big grass areas, and at some events you can drive into the outer track and park along the fence. For Supercars, a Main Straight Grandstand with unreserved seats and a Turn 4 Grandstand are sold (2026 and 2027), and the official photos show both open to the sky. The pick for most events is the Bruce McLaren Grandstand, facing the start and finish.
Grandstand
Bruce McLaren Grandstand
Permanent
Overlooks the main straight, facing the start and finish.
Grandstand
Denny Hulme Grandstand
Permanent
Looks over the back of the circuit.
Grandstand
Turn 4 Grandstand
Temporary, big events only
No cover
At Turn 4, for high speed cornering and overtaking. Sold for Supercars 2026 and 2027.
Viewing spot
Accessible Viewing Platform
Temporary, big events only
Wheelchair spaces
Between Turns 10 and 11 near Gate B, for wheelchair users. Supercars 2026.
Facilities
Kids area
Parking
Two permanent grandstands, terraced seating, a children's playground and a treed picnic area. The Chris Amon Clubrooms, function rooms with a bar for after the racing, a viewing lounge with a balcony at the start and finish line, the control tower, pit garages and a competitor fuel bay. Sites for hospitality marquees at big events.
Plan your day
Getting there
107 Hasketts Road, Templeton, on the western edge of Christchurch, about 25 to 30 minutes' drive from the city centre. At some events you can drive into the outer track and park along the fence. For Supercars 2026 there was limited free parking, a free park and ride from Canterbury Agricultural Park on Curletts Road, a paid shuttle from the central city, and no drop offs at the gate.
Accessibility
The ground is a mix of sealed roads, gravel roads and grass, and the viewing areas are raised, so expect slopes. For Supercars 2026 there was a wheelchair viewing platform between Turns 10 and 11 near Gate B, with accessible toilets and accessible parking in the premium car park.
Coming at a different time
Visiting outside an event
Best on an event day
There's no public access on a normal day. Test days, mostly Fridays, are for competition licence holders, and road cars and bikes go out with track day groups. Driver training and drive experiences run on booked days. The office is open daily, 8.30am to 5pm.
Good to know
Good to know
Supercars' first South Island round
Ruapuna is a club owned circuit, opened by Canterbury Car Club volunteers in 1963. In April 2026 it held Supercars' first round in the South Island, and 65,806 people came over three days, the biggest crowd in its history. It has also hosted the Lady Wigram Trophy in the Toyota Racing Series.
The track
A permanent circuit that runs anticlockwise. The main 3.33 km GP layout has 11 turns, and it's the one Supercars used in 2026. There are six layouts in all, from the 2.35 km Circuit Four to the 3.44 km Circuit Two with 14 turns, plus the A Track tri oval used for run in mornings. The quarter mile drag strip runs on the main straight. It opened in 1963 as a one mile flat tri oval with a hairpin and was extended to 3.3 km in 1993. The club's lap record on the GP layout is 1:15.810, set by Scott Dixon in a Reynard 92D in 1998, and the Supercars race lap record is 1:21.9256, set by Matt Payne in 2026. Ruapuna Speedway next door is a separate venue.
