Cyclone Vaianu Forces Major Schedule Shifts for Taupō Supercars and Football Ferns
Cyclone Vaianu is triggering significant disruptions across New Zealand’s North Island, forcing the rescheduling of major sporting events as the storm prepares to craft landfall on Sunday. From the Repco Supercars Championship in Taupō to the Football Ferns’ critical World Cup qualifier, organizers are prioritizing safety over the original programming.
Taupō Supercars: Dramatic Track Schedule Changes
Due to the weather forecast, Supercars organizers have implemented a restructured schedule for the event in Taupō. The most significant changes involve moving sessions forward to avoid the worst of the storm’s impact.
Key adjustments to the Saturday schedule include:
- Session Shifts: All Saturday race sessions have been moved forward by 30 minutes.
- Race 8 (120km): Now scheduled to start at 12:20 pm NZST.
- Race 9 (200km): This race has been extended to 200km and will initiate at 3:30 pm NZST.
- Cancellations: The Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout has been removed from the programme.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Race 10 of the Repco Supercars Championship has been tentatively rescheduled for 9:45 am NZST, a decision based on the latest weather forecasts. Barclay Nettlefold, Supercars chair and interim chief executive, stated that while the organization hopes to run the event in full, “safety and responsibility are absolutely critical.”
Ticket Flexibility for Fans
To accommodate the schedule shifts, organizers are offering flexibility to ticket holders:
- General Admission: Sunday-only ticket holders are invited to use their tickets on both Saturday and Sunday.
- Pit Walk: Sunday pit walk ticket holders may also attend the Saturday pit walk.
Broader Sporting and Regional Impacts
The disruption extends beyond motorsports. The Football Ferns World Cup qualifier against Fiji has also been rescheduled due to the approaching cyclone.
MetService has issued severe warnings, noting a “threat to life from flying items and falling trees” as the storm approaches. Residents in the Coromandel and on Great Barrier Island have been specifically advised to avoid travel and stay indoors. The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has urged those attending events to plan their journeys carefully and anticipate high traffic volumes.
Key Takeaways: Cyclone Vaianu Disruptions
| Event/Area | Impact/Change |
|---|---|
| Taupō Supercars | Race sessions moved forward 30 mins; Race 9 extended to 200km; Shootout cancelled. |
| Football Ferns | World Cup qualifier against Fiji rescheduled. |
| Coromandel & Great Barrier Island | Travel avoidance and “stay inside” advisories issued. |
| Race 10 (Supercars) | Tentatively rescheduled for Sunday at 9:45 am NZST. |
Supercars and local authorities will continue to monitor the situation with caution over the coming days to ensure the safety of fans, teams, and stakeholders.
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