‘Time to change’: Quinn calls for shorter Supercars events

The comments come off the back of claims that the inaugural double-header in New Zealand injected $21.4 million into the local economy.

Even though the Taupo event was shortened to a two-day event by bad weather, it generated $7.9 million.

Speaking with New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB, Quinn said that was “positive number” even if “sometimes the numbers get mixed up and embellished” a bit.

Taupo has suffered something of an attendance slump since its maiden visit in 2024.

The first event attracted 67,411 fans before a steep drop to 51,454 attendees. This year, there were 29,562 spectators across two days.

Off the back of the shortened Taupo meeting, Quinn said Supercars should consider how long its events are and look at one-day meetings.

That would be a big departure from the current trend, which is to having racing across all three days of its events as has happened in Sydney, Darwin and Townsville.

“I’ve long been a promoter of one-day events. I think we’ve been doing three-day events for 50 years now, and I think it’s time to change it up,” Quinn reasoned.

“I always remember in Australia when John Cornell went to Kerry Packer and said ‘I think this test cricket, I think we could do it in one day’.

“It was poo-pooed, and it would never work and it’s been the best thing to ever happen to cricket.

“So for me, unfortunately we had to cram everything into two days, which was done very well, and nobody was disappointed.

“If we look at a rugby match, it lasts for an afternoon or three hours. I think motor racing sometimes does itself an injustice by running for three days.

“Practice on Friday and then a couple of races on Saturday and Sunday, I think we could get it all into one day.

“I would love to try stuff like that. Anyway, that’s just my own personal thing.”

Quinn, who owns three tracks in New Zealand, joked that the country was ready for a triple-header.

He heads up Hampton Downs and Taupo in the North Island and Highlands in the South Island.

Quinn has flagged the likelihood that Hampton Downs eventually replaces Taupo on the calendar, but also wants Highlands to get a round of the championship.

Supercars was set to race at Highlands in 2026 until Christchurch swooped in late.

Quinn and the circuit group’s CEO Josie Spillane have been proponents of the ‘Project 29’ – a mission to get Supercars to Highlands once the Christchurch deal is up.

In any case, Quinn is keen to see Supercars rotate between circuits.

“I think Auckland will definitely feature,” said Quinn.

“I’ve promoted to the V8s – because New Zealand has got at least four tracks that can hold these kind of events – they have the opportunity in New Zealand to move them around the regions, which I think would be a good idea.

“But that may just make a few more years to convince the authorities that that’s a good idea. I’ve spoken to Barclay (Nettlefold) about it, just briefly, and he’s not opposed to it.

“It’s just the logistics of moving the show around. People get used to doing the same thing, so it’s easier for the operational people to rinse and repeat. I think for the actual show itself, I think it would be great – and for the country – it would be great to move it around to different tracks.

“Every couple of years or whatever. That’s the next goal I would say. I think a triple-header is going to be hard, if I’m being honest. I think we could certainly move it around the country and improve the show.”

Dates for the Taupo and Christchurch events are set to be announced soon.

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