# 2022 Auckland SuperSprint

The 2022 ITM Auckland SuperSprint was a motor racing event for Supercars, held on the weekend of 9 to 11 September 2022. The event was held at Pukekohe Park Raceway near Pukekohe, New Zealand, and consisted of three races. It was the 10th event of thirteen in the 2022 Supercars Championship and hosted races 23 and 24 of the season.
The Dick Johnson Racing outfit started the weekend strong; setting the pace in the practice and qualifying sessions, and eventually resulting in Will Davison taking the first win of the weekend. Local hero Shane van Gisbergen fought back on Sunday to take a pole position and won the second race. He would also take victory in the final race in a highly acclaimed battle in the final laps with Cam Waters. With these results, van Gisbergen would capture the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy; an award given to the top points scorer for the New Zealand Supercars round.
This was the fifteenth, and to date, final running of the Auckland SuperSprint. It was also the final Supercars event to take place at Pukekohe and one of the last racing events to be held at the track before its permanent closure in early 2023. After a years hiatus, Supercars would return to New Zealand, with a new home being found in Taupō.

## Background

After 60 years of operation, it was announced that Pukekohe Park Raceway would cease motor racing activities in 2023 to make way for developments on the horse racing grounds. The demise of the racetrack led to a search for an alternative venue for future Supercars events. It was eventually decided that, starting from 2024, the series would resume New Zealand events at Taupo International Motorsport Park.
Waters sported the number 50 on his Tickford Racing car; replacing the number 6 he usually used. This was in tribute of Waters long-time sponsor, Enzed, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary as a company in 2023.

## Report
### Practice

The Dick Johnson Racing pairing of Anton de Pasquale and Will Davison topping the first and second practice sessions respectively. Waters suffered a minor excursion in the first session, spearing off into the gravel at turn three and bringing out the red flag.
Practice summary :
| Session | Day | Fastest lap | Fastest lap | Fastest lap | Fastest lap | Fastest lap |
| Session | Day | No. | Driver | Team | Car | Time |
| P1 | Friday | 11 | Anton de Pasquale | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.2066 |
| P2 | Saturday | 17 | Will Davison | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.1524 |

### Race 27
#### Qualifying

Waters clinched pole position ahead of Davison and was the only driver to set a time below the 1:02 bracket. Davison would join him on the front row, with Chaz Mostert heading the second row and De Pasquale drawing alongside.
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 50 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.9984 |
| 2 | 17 | Will Davison | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.0680 |
| 3 | 25 | Chaz Mostert | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1218 |
| 4 | 11 | Anton de Pasquale | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.2038 |
| 5 | 8 | Andre Heimgartner | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.2199 |
| 6 | 20 | Scott Pye | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3298 |
| 7 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3355 |
| 8 | 88 | Broc Feeney | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.4311 |
| 9 | 31 | James Golding | PremiAir Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.4374 |
| 10 | 5 | James Courtney | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.5285 |
| 11 | 2 | Nick Percat | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3866 |
| 12 | 14 | Tim Slade | Blanchard Racing Team | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.4127 |
| 13 | 56 | Jake Kostecki | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.4222 |
| 14 | 26 | David Reynolds | Grove Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.4764 |
| 15 | 96 | Macauley Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.4801 |
| 16 | 55 | Thomas Randle | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.5404 |
| 17 | 4 | Jack Smith | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.5507 |
| 18 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.6181 |
| 19 | 34 | Jack Le Brocq | Matt Stone Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.6738 |
| 20 | 99 | Brodie Kostecki | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.6799 |
| 21 | 14 | Bryce Fullwood | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.9566 |
| 22 | 9 | Will Brown | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.9991 |
| 23 | 10 | Lee Holdsworth | Grove Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:03.0022 |
| 24 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:03.0424 |
| 25 | 22 | Chris Pither | PremiAir Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:03.0446 |
| Source(s): ||||||

#### Race

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid |
| 1 | 17 | Will Davison | Dick Johnson Racing | 41 | 48min 16.5956sec | 2 |
| 2 | 8 | Andre Heimgartner | Brad Jones Racing | 41 | + 0.865 | 5 |
| 3 | 50 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | 41 | + 1.763 | 1 |
| 4 | 25 | Chaz Mostert | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 41 | + 2.577 | 3 |
| 5 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 41 | + 2.886 | 7 |
| 6 | 11 | Anton de Pasquale | Dick Johnson Racing | 41 | + 4.715 | 4 |
| 7 | 88 | Broc Feeney | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 41 | + 5.248 | 8 |
| 8 | 2 | Nick Percat | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 41 | + 5.873 | 11 |
| 9 | 26 | David Reynolds | Grove Racing | 41 | + 6.885 | 14 |
| 10 | 20 | Scott Pye | Team 18 | 41 | + 7.997 | 6 |
| 11 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | 41 | + 8.400 | 18 |
| 12 | 10 | Lee Holdsworth | Grove Racing | 41 | + 8.841 | 23 |
| 13 | 22 | Chris Pither | PremiAir Racing | 41 | + 10.840 | 25 |
| 14 | 4 | Jack Smith | Brad Jones Racing | 41 | + 11.365 | 17 |
| 15 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | 41 | + 11.781 | 24 |
| 16 | 55 | Thomas Randle | Tickford Racing | 41 | + 12.365 | 16 |
| 17 | 31 | James Golding | PremiAir Racing | 41 | + 12.791 | 9 |
| 18 | 5 | James Courtney | Tickford Racing | 41 | + 13.797 | 10 |
| 19 | 9 | Will Brown | Erebus Motorsport | 41 | + 14.480 | 22 |
| 20 | 99 | Brodie Kostecki | Erebus Motorsport | 41 | + 25.229 | 20 |
| 21 | 56 | Jake Kostecki | Tickford Racing | 38 | + 3 laps | 13 |
| 22 | 14 | Bryce Fullwood | Brad Jones Racing | 34 | + 7 laps | 21 |
| 23 | 34 | Jack Le Brocq | Matt Stone Racing | 33 | + 8 laps | 19 |
| NC | 96 | Macauley Jones | Brad Jones Racing | 28 | + 13 laps | 15 |
| Ret | 3 | Tim Slade | Tim Blanchard Racing | 0 | Retired | 12 |
| Fastest Lap: Shane van Gisbergen (Triple Eight Race Engineering), 1:02.9504 |||||||
| Source(s): |||||||

### Race 28
#### Qualifying

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1092 |
| 2 | 88 | Broc Feeney | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.1714 |
| 3 | 17 | Will Davison | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.1777 |
| 4 | 11 | Anton de Pasquale | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.1777 |
| 5 | 25 | Chaz Mostert | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.4588 |
| 6 | 20 | Scott Pye | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.5012 |
| 7 | 50 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.5289 |
| 8 | 26 | David Reynolds | Grove Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.5289 |
| 9 | 99 | Brodie Kostecki | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.5645 |
| 10 | 8 | Andre Heimgartner | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.5707 |
| 11 | 56 | Jake Kostecki | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.5959 |
| 12 | 31 | James Golding | PremiAir Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.7093 |
| 13 | 34 | Jack Le Brocq | Matt Stone Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.7106 |
| 14 | 2 | Nick Percat | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.7977 |
| 15 | 14 | Bryce Fullwood | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.8013 |
| 16 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.8177 |
| 17 | 96 | Macauley Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.8587 |
| 18 | 10 | Lee Holdsworth | Grove Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.9184 |
| 19 | 3 | Tim Slade | Tim Blanchard Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.9217 |
| 20 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:03.0102 |
| 21 | 9 | Will Brown | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:03.0621 |
| 22 | 55 | Thomas Randle | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:03.1068 |
| 23 | 4 | Jack Smith | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:03.2706 |
| 24 | 5 | James Courtney | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:03.2816 |
| 25 | 22 | Chris Pither | PremiAir Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:03.3506 |
| Source(s): ||||||

#### Race

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid |
| 1 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 36 | 1hr 01min 06.3736sec | 1 |
| 2 | 25 | Chaz Mostert | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 36 | + 2.399 | 5 |
| 3 | 50 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | 36 | + 4.475 | 7 |
| 4 | 17 | Will Davison | Dick Johnson Racing | 36 | + 6.948 | 3 |
| 5 | 20 | Scott Pye | Team 18 | 36 | + 11.810 | 6 |
| 6 | 8 | Andre Heimgartner | Brad Jones Racing | 36 | + 12.209 | 10 |
| 7 | 26 | David Reynolds | Grove Racing | 36 | + 19.758 | 8 |
| 8 | 88 | Broc Feeney | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 36 | + 22.098 | 2 |
| 9 | 56 | Jake Kostecki | Tickford Racing | 36 | + 23.760 | 11 |
| 10 | 31 | James Golding | PremiAir Racing | 36 | + 24.154 | 12 |
| 11 | 14 | Bryce Fullwood | Brad Jones Racing | 36 | + 26.852 | 15 |
| 12 | 10 | Lee Holdsworth | Grove Racing | 36 | + 27.599 | 18 |
| 13 | 96 | Macauley Jones | Brad Jones Racing | 36 | + 32.709 | 17 |
| 14 | 2 | Nick Percat | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 36 | + 33.110 | 14 |
| 15 | 3 | Tim Slade | Tim Blanchard Racing | 36 | + 36.208 | 19 |
| 16 | 5 | James Courtney | Tickford Racing | 36 | + 38.575 | 24 |
| 17 | 4 | Jack Smith | Brad Jones Racing | 36 | + 42.104 | 23 |
| 18 | 99 | Brodie Kostecki | Erebus Motorsport | 36 | + 42.473 | 9 |
| 19 | 22 | Chris Pither | PremiAir Racing | 36 | + 42.880 | 25 |
| 20 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | 36 | + 43.779 | 20 |
| 21 | 55 | Thomas Randle | Tickford Racing | 36 | + 53.171 | 22 |
| 22 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | 35 | + 1 lap | 16 |
| NC | 34 | Jack Le Brocq | Matt Stone Racing | 30 | + 6 laps | 13 |
| Ret | 11 | Anton de Pasquale | Dick Johnson Racing | 0 | Retired | 4 |
| Ret | 9 | Will Brown | Erebus Motorsport | 0 | Retired | 21 |
| Fastest Lap: Shane van Gisbergen (Triple Eight Race Engineering), 1:03.3351 |||||||
| Source(s): |||||||

### Race 29
#### Qualifying

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 17 | Will Davison | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:01.9211 |
| 2 | 50 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.1507 |
| 3 | 11 | Anton de Pasquale | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.1641 |
| 4 | 88 | Broc Feeney | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.2157 |
| 5 | 8 | Andre Heimgartner | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.2425 |
| 6 | 20 | Scott Pye | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.2605 |
| 7 | 26 | David Reynolds | Grove Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.3050 |
| 8 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3191 |
| 9 | 25 | Chaz Mostert | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.3481 |
| 10 | 2 | Nick Percat | Walkinshaw Andretti United | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.4059 |
| 11 | 55 | Thomas Randle | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.4729 |
| 12 | 34 | Jack Le Brocq | Matt Stone Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.4879 |
| 13 | 99 | Brodie Kostecki | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.4922 |
| 14 | 3 | Tim Slade | Tim Blanchard Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.5095 |
| 15 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.5186 |
| 16 | 14 | Bryce Fullwood | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.5375 |
| 17 | 10 | Lee Holdsworth | Grove Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.5836 |
| 18 | 31 | James Golding | PremiAir Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.5941 |
| 19 | 96 | Macauley Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.7347 |
| 20 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.8240 |
| 21 | 9 | Will Brown | Erebus Motorsport | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.8455 |
| 22 | 22 | Chris Pither | PremiAir Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:02.9553 |
| 23 | 5 | James Courtney | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:02.9824 |
| 24 | 4 | Jack Smith | Brad Jones Racing | Holden Commodore (ZB) | 1:03.0062 |
| 25 | 56 | Jake Kostecki | Tickford Racing | Ford Mustang (S550) | 1:03.0971 |
| Source(s): ||||||

#### Race

| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid |
| 1 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 41 | 54min 40.0655sec | 8 |
| 2 | 50 | Cam Waters | Tickford Racing | 41 | + 1.116 | 2 |
| 3 | 8 | Andre Heimgartner | Brad Jones Racing | 41 | + 1.627 | 5 |
| 4 | 88 | Broc Feeney | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 41 | + 3.214 | 4 |
| 5 | 11 | Anton de Pasquale | Dick Johnson Racing | 41 | + 5.627 | 3 |
| 6 | 25 | Chaz Mostert | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 41 | + 6.228 | 9 |
| 7 | 20 | Scott Pye | Team 18 | 41 | + 7.417 | 6 |
| 8 | 26 | David Reynolds | Grove Racing | 41 | + 8.518 | 7 |
| 9 | 2 | Nick Percat | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 41 | + 12.632 | 10 |
| 10 | 3 | Tim Slade | Tim Blanchard Racing | 41 | + 12.963 | 14 |
| 11 | 31 | James Golding | PremiAir Racing | 41 | + 18.021 | 18 |
| 12 | 18 | Mark Winterbottom | Team 18 | 41 | + 18.943 | 15 |
| 13 | 14 | Bryce Fullwood | Brad Jones Racing | 41 | + 24.662 | 16 |
| 14 | 10 | Lee Holdsworth | Grove Racing | 41 | + 25.318 | 17 |
| 15 | 56 | Jake Kostecki | Tickford Racing | 41 | + 25.619 | 25 |
| 16 | 22 | Chris Pither | PremiAir Racing | 41 | + 26.761 | 22 |
| 17 | 96 | Macauley Jones | Brad Jones Racing | 41 | + 27.225 | 19 |
| 18 | 55 | Thomas Randle | Tickford Racing | 41 | + 31.827 | 11 |
| 19 | 99 | Brodie Kostecki | Erebus Motorsport | 41 | + 32.487 | 13 |
| 20 | 4 | Jack Smith | Brad Jones Racing | 41 | + 34.659 | 24 |
| 21 | 34 | Jack Le Brocq | Matt Stone Racing | 41 | + 37.293 | 12 |
| 22 | 17 | Will Davison | Dick Johnson Racing | 40 | + 1 lap | 1 |
| 23 | 35 | Todd Hazelwood | Matt Stone Racing | 34 | + 7 laps | 20 |
| Ret | 5 | James Courtney | Tickford Racing | 0 | Retired | 23 |
| Fastest Lap: Shane van Gisbergen (Triple Eight Race Engineering), 1:03.0287 |||||||
| Source(s): |||||||

## Aftermath

Following this round, Supercars would not return to New Zealand shores for 2023. The hiatus would only be year-long however as an alternative venue was found in Taupō for 2024. The Taupō Super400 would be held in late April and would be the first New Zealand Supercars event to utilise the Gen3 cars introduced at the start of that year. The Jason Richards Memorial Trophy would be carried over to this event and was won by De Pasquale.
Pukekohe Park Raceway would cease operations in early 2023 and the demolition process would begin in March 2024. Before the tracks closure, a public campaign was initiated to have the fabled track scanned for sim racing service, iRacing. In September 2022, it was confirmed that the track would be scanned for the service. Although, while the track had been scanned before demolition took place, a release date for the track on the service is currently unknown.
Van Gisbergen carried his momentum into the next round; the Bathurst 1000. Winning the event alongside Garth Tander, and once again dueling with Waters in the dying laps.

### Championship standings

| Pos. | Driver | Points |
| 1 | Shane van Gisbergen | 2782 |
| 2 | Cam Waters | 2257 |
| 3 | Will Davison | 2180 |
| 4 | Anton de Pasquale | 2113 |
| 5 | Chaz Mostert | 2004 |
| Pos. | Constructor | Points |
| 1 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | 4634 |
| 2 | Dick Johnson Racing | 4293 |
| 3 | Tickford Racing (5 & 6) | 3678 |
| 4 | Walkinshaw Andretti United | 3254 |
| 5 | Grove Racing | 3050 |
* Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.