Kiwi motorsport legend Greg Murphy has welcomed a "new era" of Supercars to New Zealand, when the Aussie racing championship returns to Taupō next year.
The event did not cross the Tasman this year, after Pukekohe Park Raceway reverted back to a horse-training facility, but promoters have searched feverishly to find another venue, with Taupō International Motorsport Park emerging as that location.
While no date has been confirmed, Murphy has told AM it could happen towards the end of the NZ summer, taking advantage of favourable climate to maximise attendance in the central North Island town.
"The latest you want to be is April," he said. "It can't be October, because you run into Bathurst and the likes, so it might be November.
"We're not sure what end of the year it's going to be to make sure it's at the right time for our own selfish reasons around weather. It's important, because that has an affect on the crowd too."
Murphy, 50, achieved 28 victories - including four at the iconic Bathurst 1000 - during a Supercars career that has spanned 25 years. After several years' absence, he returned to the 'Great Race' last year, teaming with fellow Kiwi Richie Stanaway for 11th.
"It's super exciting," he told AM. "I got a little shiver in my spine coming in this morning to talk about it.
"It's great to have it back. We have so many motorsport fans in New Zealand and Pukekohe has been so brilliant to us for Supercars.
"It's a new era and that will be enough to get all the petrolheads in New Zealand excited."
Murphy says some work is still need to bring the facility up to Supercars standard, but raves about the newly developed venue.
"I love the racetrack - it really is a brilliant piece of asphalt to go racing on. It's not an easy racetrack to get around efficiently and fast, so it's quite challenging.
"Pit facilities there are fantastic and we've very fortunate in New Zealand to have so many places to do this."
He estimates the new Gen 3 cars might reach 250kph on the fastest straight at Taupō.
"There are a lot of really interesting corners there that I believe will create some really exciting racing,"said Murphy. "The circuit is amazing for viewing.
"There's a lot of work to be done to set the circuit up to give fans the best experience possible, but Supercars are brilliant at that and so are the team at Taupō Motorsport Park."
