It’s the return of the big bangers! The Supercar circus is back in NZ, with two 200KM races set to tear around the pumice surrounded Taupo International Motorsport Park this weekend.

The fans tears have all but dried up now, the mourning period for the old lady that was Pukekohe is well and truly over.

There's a new kid in town, slap bang in the middle of the North Island ready to make its mark on the Aussie touring car series. The circuit, given more than a spit and polish by new owner and man behind the magnificent Highlands Park and Hampton Downs, Tony Quinn, is prepped and ready to shred the 24 strong grid.

Tony Quinn has been a godsend for racecar enthusiasts here, a bloke who has been willing to pour his considerable wealth into the game up and down Aotearoa, a genuine fan and supporter of dare I say it, when you look at the proliferation of success stories behind the wheel globally, our national sport.

Out the shadow of the death of NZs greatest motorsport philanthropist, Sir Colin Giltrap, Tony Quinn steps into the light. He should be celebrated; indeed, this weekend will be the party that he merits, hand in hand with the wake that Sir Colin deserves.

The race weekend is something this country dearly needs, the district itself, is expecting an injection of tourist dollars somewhere in the vicinity of $6 million bucks on the back of 100,000 petrol-soaked tourists.

The races themselves will be a treat as well, the Taupo circuit being a true test of the skills of the field. It’s twisty AF, with varying surface conditions on a circuit new to most teams. The 5 Kiwi involved all have experience there, which gives them the upper hand, each character looking to fill the void left by van Gisbergen and McLaughlin.

The weather looks to be wet and wild, another reason to give the locals a hand throughout the 400 km of racing.

This is the dawning of a new era, based on what Quinn and his team have achieved, a long era at that. Locked in for 2 more years, one would like to think that this event will be the new pride and joy of not motorsports but NZ’s international sporting calendar.

That'll do.