Motorsport royalty is coming to Wellington. Not for a demo run. For the Race Of Champions – and for the first time, New Zealand will host one of world motorsport’s great showpiece events.
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel and current F1 driver Valtteri Bottas, now racing for Cadillac, are already locked in. Kiwi rally ace Hayden Paddon will fly the home flag. More big names are expected. The ‘Cake Tin’ has never looked like this before.
Vettel’s wish comes true
Hnry Stadium will be transformed on January 9 and 10, 2027, when a purpose-built tarmac circuit is laid inside the Wellington arena. The tight, made-for-TV layout that defines ROC will be dropped into the middle of a venue better known for football and rugby.
For Vettel, this is more than another invitation. It’s a request granted.
Before the last ROC in Sydney, the German made a flying visit across the Tasman and came away stunned by what he saw.
“Before ROC Sydney I went for a first quick visit to New Zealand and was blown away by the beauty of the country, so I told the organisers jokingly can you pls bring the next ROC to New Zealand,” he said.
The joke has turned into a full-scale international event.
“I am really looking forward to competing against so many other Champions from across the globe at the Race Of Champions in Wellington in January and get a chance to visit more of New Zealand.”
Vettel, one of the most decorated drivers of his generation, duelling head-to-head with stars from every corner of the sport in front of a New Zealand crowd – that’s the sell.
Paddon at the heart of a homecoming
For Paddon, this is personal. A global motorsport carnival, on home soil, with his name on the bill.
“It’s amazing to see one of the world’s most spectacular motorsport events come to New Zealand for the first time ever,” he said.
“New Zealand is really in a golden age of Motorsport at the moment across so many disciplines and I can’t think of a more fitting celebration of this than Hosting the Race Of Champions that attracts so many of the biggest stars from all around the world.
“It’s really a historic event for so many reasons and I’m personally incredibly proud to be a part of it.”
He will not be alone in representing the fern. Organisers are still to confirm his teammate for Team New Zealand, and the shortlist reads like a who’s who of modern Kiwi racing.
Liam Lawson, fresh from his own F1 experience, is firmly in the frame. NASCAR convert and three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen is another obvious candidate. IndyCar legends Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin are also on the list of names officials hope to entice into the ROC arena.
Whoever lines up alongside Paddon, the local pairing will carry huge expectation in front of a partisan crowd.
Stadium to circuit in a week
The transformation of Hnry Stadium will be rapid. As soon as Wellington Phoenix finish their A-League clash with Newcastle Jets on January 2, work begins. The football markings will give way to barriers, bridges and a compact, twisting ribbon of tarmac designed for short, sharp, knockout duels.
The Cake Tin will become a cauldron.
Tourism and hospitality minister Louise Upston believes the event will do more than entertain.
“This one-off event will draw motorsport enthusiasts from across New Zealand and reinforce Wellington's reputation for hosting unforgettable major events,” she said.
The city, already famed for its wind and waterfront, now gets a shot at high-octane theatre in the heart of summer.
Tickets and the rush to be there
Demand will be fierce. Day passes start at $49, with weekend tickets from $74, pitching the event as a major international show that still feels accessible for families and hardcore fans alike.
Registration for pre-sale tickets is already open. Those who sign up get first crack when pre-sale access opens on Monday, September 21, before general admission sales begin on Tuesday, September 22.
By then, more drivers will be confirmed. More storylines will emerge. Vettel back in a helmet in front of a new audience. Bottas in ROC machinery. A Kiwi team carrying the hopes of a country in what Paddon calls a golden age.
In January 2027, Wellington won’t just host the Race Of Champions. It will find out how loudly it can roar when the world’s best line up on its doorstep.
