For the first time in 16 years, Kiwi motorsport fans will tune in to a Supercars Championship without either Scott McLaughlin or Shane van Gisbergen on the starting grid.
With van Gisbergen now also US-based, a passing of the Kiwi flag to a new combo has taken place and the duo are ready to try and follow in their compatriots' steps.
Richie Stanaway and Matt Payne will line up for Penrite Racing this year — and both have every reason to take some confidence in to round one.
Payne enters having won the final race of last year in Adelaide in dominant fashion.
"Obviously, my first win, especially with these guys, it was a pretty tough year for us, just with everything that was going on with Supercars and it was really good to finally get the win," Payne told 1News.
"I thought it was very good to get one in that year but it was awesome for the [team]. They worked super hard, especially towards the end of the year when our car speed was actually quite competitive so I definitely knew the podium was there.
"I was very, very chuffed to get it across the line and get the win."
It capped an impressive rookie season for the 21-year-old and cemented his status as one to watch on the circuit.
Although he admitted there was a time where he may not have even been a pro driver.
"I started racing when I was five but it probably wasn't something that we thought that we were going to do properly when I was really young but we sort of just gave it a go and me and my dad used to just drive all around the country in New Zealand Racing go karts and we did that for 10, 11 years," Payne recalled.
"Since then, I've started doing more international racing and it was probably 2018 where we sort of thought, 'hey, you know, we could probably take this seriously and try and sort of make something of this'.
"We'd obviously had some good results when I was younger in Karts so, but to be standing right now in a Supercars team going into my second season, it's pretty amazing."
He's now joined by Stanaway who returns to Supercars as a full-time driver after some impressive results as van Gisbergen's co-driver last year, none more so than winning the Bathurst 1000.
"Last year was an incredible year, getting a chance to drive with Shane van Gisbergen and winning Bathurst but nothing is quite as exciting as coming back and racing full time which I'm excited to do this year."
It will be the 32-year-old's sixth Supercars season as a full-time driver after years of setbacks saw him eventually retire from racing in 2019 before he was eventually lured back in 2022 by Kiwi motorsport great Greg Murphy for the Great Race at Mount Panorama.
Stanaway impressed, so much so he earned a partner deal with van Gisbergen and Triple Eight Racing and in 12 months, he conquered the mountain.
That whirlwind return to the track has now fired him up and given him some confidence for his return.
"I haven't felt this confident for the start of season since 2011 and that was the last time I won a championship," he said.
"Every year since then I've basically known through circumstance that I wasn't going to be a contender.
"But I really believe that ultimately it's just up to me this year and if I can get everything out of myself and I can perform, I think I have the team to do the rest of the job."
He also wants to do it for the Kiwi fans looking for another champion to rally behind.
"Hopefully Matt and I can fly the flag for New Zealand because obviously Shane's flown off to the US so hopefully him and I can be at the front and give the Kiwis some new drivers to support."
Supporters won't have to wait long with the first round of this year's championship kicking off later this month at where else but Mount Panorama in the newly reinstated Bathurst 500.
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