The 2023 Bathurst 1000 winner, Richie Stanaway, has been axed from PremiAir effective immediately two races before the end of the 2025 season.
The driver shake-up comes at the same time as the 2026 Supercars calendar was unveiled, revealing that Stanaway’s New Zealand home will host a double-header, gifting starved Kiwi fans more motorsport action.
As Roland Dane joins the helm of PremiAir from January 1, his new driver line-up for 2026 – Jayden Ojeda and Declan Fraser – are now primed to get an early call up.
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“PremiAir Racing wishes to advise that, following discussions with Richie Stanaway after the Gold Coast 500, he will step away from the team with immediate effect, bringing his time with PremiAir Racing to an early conclusion,” a team statement said.
Kiwi Richie Stanaway has been axed before he could compete in the sport’s NZ double header in 2026. Getty
“The team will confirm Richie’s replacement driver for the remaining 2025 events in the coming days.
“This decision will ensure continuity while maintaining our focus on building strong momentum into next season.”
Stanaway was co-driver to Shane van Gisbergen, the two creating an all-Kiwi team for the 2023 edition of ‘the great race’, highlighting New Zealand’s ability to produce some of Supercars’ brightest stars.
Shane van Gisbergen and co-driver Richie Stanaway hoisted the Peter Brock Trophy in 2023. Getty
Supercars, in the past decade, has seen the championship clinched by a Kiwi six times; three-a-piece to van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin.
This year’s Bathurst 100 winner Matt Payne, Ryan Wood, Andre Heimgartner and outgoing Stanaway all fly the flag for the New Zealand crowd.
Taupo will host its third Supercars weekend on April 10-12 before the championship heads down to the South Island in a historic debut in Christchurch the following weekend.
In 2025, Payne took home a thriller in Taupo to stand on the top step of the podium and take home the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy. The 23-year-old, alongside SVG and McLaughlin are the only homegrown talent to lift the trophy.
Matt Payne took top honours at the Taupo weekend. Getty
In 2026, Sydney will open the Supercars season with a historic free first day of the season for fans, to witness the debut of Toyota on track.
Melbourne is next, in conjunction with the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, before heading over the Tasman to New Zealand for Taupo and Christchurch.
Tasmania, Darwin, Townsville, Perth and Ipswich will round out the nine-race Sprint Cup.
The Bend and the iconic Bathurst 1000 will again be the Enduro Cup races before the Supercars Finals will be decided in Gold Coast, Sandown and Adelaide elimination rounds.
2026 Supercars Calendar
Event
Dates
Sydney 500
February 20-22
Melbourne SuperSprint
March 5-8
ITM Taupō Super 440
April 10-12
Christchurch Super 440
April 17-19
Tasmania Super 440
May 22-24
betr Darwin Triple Crown
June 19-21
NTI Townsville 500
July 10-12
Perth Super 440
July 31-August 2
Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440
August 21-23
AirTouch 500 at The Bend
September 11-13
Repco Bathurst 1000
October 8-11
Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500
October 23-25
Penrite Oil Sandown 500
November 13-15
bp Adelaide Grand Final
December 3-6