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Race Of Champions (ROC) is coming to New Zealand for the first time. On 9–10 January 2027, Wellington's Hnry Stadium will be turned into a temporary asphalt circuit where drivers from Formula 1, rallying, Supercars and more race head-to-head in identical cars. This guide pulls together the dates, the confirmed drivers, the schedule, ticket options and how to get there. We update it as the organisers announce more. For the event listing itself, see Race of Champions NZ 2027 on NZShift.
What is Race of Champions?
ROC has run since 1988 and has visited venues from Wembley Stadium and the Stade de France to Beijing's Bird's Nest. The idea is simple: because everyone drives the same cars, the result is decided by driver skill rather than machinery. Wellington is only the second ROC held in the Southern Hemisphere, after Sydney in 2025, which was won by Sébastien Loeb.
There are two competitions across the weekend. The ROC Nations Cup on Saturday 9 January crowns the world's fastest nation, and the Champion of Champions on Sunday 10 January decides the individual title.
Who is racing in Wellington?
The organisers announced the latest additions on 29 September 2026. Confirmed so far:
- Sebastian Vettel — four-time Formula 1 World Champion
- Valtteri Bottas — 10-time F1 race winner
- David Coulthard — 13-time F1 race winner and two-time ROC Champion of Champions
- Travis Pastrana — action sports star and eight-time Rally Americas champion, representing Team USA
- Chaz Mostert, Brodie Kostecki and Will Brown — Supercars champions
- Hayden Paddon — New Zealand rally star
More drivers from Formula 1, Supercars, Le Mans, NASCAR, World Rally and Rallycross are due to be announced, and the line-up is subject to change. Kiwi fans are watching closely to see who joins Paddon on the home team.
Race of Champions NZ schedule
The programme is the same on both nights, and the organisers say it is subject to change:
- Gates open: 5:00pm
- Show starts: 6:00pm
- Drivers presentation: 6:45pm
- Racing: 7:00pm
- Finish: around 10:00pm
Tickets
Tickets are sold exclusively through Ticketek NZ. Single-day general admission starts at $49 NZD and weekend passes at $74 NZD. General admission comes in five tiers — Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Start/Finish Line — and hospitality packages (The Pavilion, the Champions Club / Lounge and ROC All Access, which includes paddock access and driver Q&As) are also available. Check Ticketek for the price of each tier, and be wary of resale sites, which list the same event at noticeably higher prices.
If you can only go one night, Saturday is the team contest and Sunday is the individual title decider. The weekend pass is the cheapest way to see both.
Getting to Hnry Stadium
Hnry Stadium (105 Waterloo Quay, Pipitea) is about 1km north of the CBD, with a capacity of around 34,500, most of it undercover. If the name is unfamiliar, it was Sky Stadium from 2020 to March 2026 and Westpac Stadium before that. Metlink trains run every 30 minutes from Wellington Railway Station and connect to the stadium via the Fran Wilde Walkway, and frequent Metlink buses serve the venue. Parking options are listed on Hnry Stadium's getting-here page.
Why it matters for NZ motorsport
ROC is backed by the New Zealand Government's one-off Events Attraction Package and delivered with WellingtonNZ and Hnry Stadium. For Kiwi fans it is a rare chance to see global names race on home soil alongside Hayden Paddon, who also featured at Rally Hawke's Bay this season.
Sources: the official Race Of Champions website and announcements (raceofchampions.com), Wellington City Council, WellingtonNZ and Hnry Stadium. Details can change — always confirm times and tickets with the organisers.
