Supercars Christchurch Super 440 2026 Preview & Predictions: Wood Momentum vs Feeney Consistency

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: Mon 13 Apr 2026 08:11

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Jeremy Darke 13 Apr 2026

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Inaugural Supercars event at Ruapuna with four races in three days.
Ryan Wood aims for victory, while Broc Feeney targets the championship lead.
Critical focus on adaptability and consistency due to a new circuit and packed schedule.

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Supercars Christchurch Super 440 2026 (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Supercars Christchurch Super 440 Preview & Predictions

Ryan Wood will carry his momentum into Christchurch with another race win, but Broc Feeney will leave the weekend back in control of the championship fight.

Supercars Christchurch Super 440 Preview & Predictions
Supercars Christchurch Super 440 Qualifying Tips
Supercars Christchurch Super 440 Race Tips

Supercars heads to Christchurch for the inaugural event at Ruapuna Raceway, and the second leg of the New Zealand double-header arrives with momentum, disruption and a reshuffled schedule. After Cyclone Vaianu forced the cancellation of Sunday’s Taupō race, the championship now rolls straight into a four-race weekend, with the lost 120km race added to Friday’s program.

All eyes are on Ryan Wood after a breakthrough home victory in Taupō, not only his first win on New Zealand soil, but also a historic first for Toyota in just its ninth Supercars race. That result has injected fresh energy into the championship narrative and tightened the battle for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.

Ruapuna presents a new challenge. With no Supercars race data at the circuit, teams will rely heavily on adaptability and baseline setup. With four races across three days, consistency becomes critical, and mistakes will be punished quickly in a compressed schedule.

Inaugural Supercars event at Ruapuna Raceway
Four races across the weekend, including a rescheduled Friday race
Ryan Wood leads the Jason Richards Trophy battle by 17 points
Brodie Kostecki leads the championship standings heading into the round

Supercars Christchurch Super 440 Qualifying Tips

Qualifying at a new circuit is always unpredictable, and Ruapuna adds another layer of uncertainty with limited data and compressed sessions. Drivers who adapt quickly to grip levels and track evolution will gain a major advantage, especially with multiple qualifying sessions feeding into four races.

Broc Feeney remains the standout qualifying driver in the field and is well placed to maximise early track conditions. However, Ryan Wood’s confidence will be sky-high after Taupō, and he should be a serious contender to start at the front across multiple races.

Chaz Mostert and Matt Payne also loom as threats, particularly given their recent form and ability to extract performance quickly. Expect mixed grids across the weekend, with at least one surprise front-row starter as teams continue to learn the circuit.

Supercars Christchurch Super 440 Race Tips

The races will be defined by momentum and survival. With four races in one weekend, drivers must balance aggression with consistency, as one mistake could derail multiple results.

Ryan Wood is the headline play after his Taupō breakthrough, and with Toyota now proven as a race-winning package, he is a genuine contender to add another victory. However, Feeney’s consistency and ability to stack podiums make him the safest bet across the full weekend.

Brodie Kostecki remains a key figure in the championship battle and will be focused on limiting damage while maintaining his points lead. Payne and Mostert should again feature strongly, particularly in longer race conditions where racecraft becomes more important.

This weekend is less about one result and more about accumulating points.