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Important update on 1476AMYoung gun Allen salutes in Christchurch for first Supercars win
Oliver Caffrey, AAP • April 17th, 2026 6:17 pm
Young Ford driver Kai Allen has claimed his maiden Supercars win in New Zealand | Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP
Young gun Kai Allen has broken through for his maiden Supercars win, holding off championship leader Brodie Kostecki in the historic first race in Christchurch.
The 20-year-old Ford ace, who had previously finished on podium five times, saluted on Friday in the first of four bumper races this weekend in the second leg of the New Zealand double-header.
Kostecki was on his tail for the large part of the race, but Allen held his nerve to finish ahead of Kostecki and emerging Kiwi Ryan Wood (third) to become the 89th different driver to win a Supercars race.
After qualifying fourth, the Grove Racing driver made his move with 15 laps remaining when Kostecki was in the pits.
"I've been dreaming of this moment since I can remember, when I was a little boy watching it on TV," said Allen, who hails from Mount Gambier in South Australia.
"To stand here with the number one in front of my car ... giving me a shot at such young age last year.
"It was coming, and I just had to be patient.
"I've got the best team around me, the best guys, so that's why I'm here for a long time.
"I've done a lot of study on this track, and it goes to show if you can put the car in the right spot, it's very hard for the guy behind to pass."
Kai Allen secures his first Supercars win at Ruapuna | Sport Nation
The debut Supercars round at Ruapuna Raceway had an extra race added to it, after last Sunday's schedule in Taupo was cancelled due to a cyclone on the country's North Island.
It was a dramatic start to life on the new circuit, with David Reynolds - in his 500th race - along with Brad Jones Racing drivers Cameron Hill and Macauley Jones involved in a chaotic incident.
Jones and Reynolds collided before turn one, with Hill hit by the spinning cars.
The drives weren't able to recover and made up the last three spots in the race.
There will be another two 37-lap races in Christchurch on Saturday, before the 200km event wraps up the round on Sunday.
Kostecki has a 55-point buffer in the standings over Red Bull Ampol star Broc Feeney.
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of the Supercars' Christchurch Super 440 from 12pm Saturday and 12.30pm Sunday.
Macauley Jones & Andre Heimgartner on driver-engineer relationships | Sport Nation Afternoons
2026 Christchurch Super 440
Saturday: Race 11 qualifying - 10:05am, Race 12 qualifying - 11:00am, Race 11 - 12:45pm, Race 12 - 4:10pm.
Sunday: Race 13 qualifying - 11:50am, Top Ten Shoot Out - 12:45pm, Race 13 - 3:05pm.
