Supercars have shifted race and qualifying times in Taupō as a cyclone threatens to hit the North Island.
Conditions were close to perfect on Friday as local hero Ryan Wood topped practice two, but the weather is set to dramatically change ahead of racing.
To deal with extreme winds and rain, Supercars officials have dramatically altered the schedule for the first of back-to-back weekends racing.
The two races on Saturday have been brought forward by 30 minutes, with the top-10 shootout axed from the programme.
The main race of the weekend – 60 laps and 200km – has been shifted from Sunday to take place on Saturday afternoon.
The third and final race of the round has been "tentatively" scheduled for 9.45am Sunday morning, but weather could still force it to be cancelled.
"While we certainly hope to run the event in full, safety and responsibility are absolutely critical," interim Supercars boss Barclay Nettlefold said.
"Supercars will continue monitoring the situation with great caution over the coming days."
Cyclone Vaianu is forecast to impact the north of NZ on Sunday, with MetSservice indicating Taupō should brace for extreme conditions.
How 'quite nasty' Cyclone Vaianu is tracking as it approaches NZ - watch on TVNZ+
"For all of the North Island, there is high confidence winds will rise to severe gale in exposed places," a MetService statement read.
"The combination of damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal inundation makes this a multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event."
Earlier, Wood was quickest in the last practice session before qualifying on Saturday.
The emerging New Zealander continued his love affair with the circuit in the country's North Island, 12 months after he secured the first podium of his promising Supercars career.
Racing in a Toyota Supra this year after Walkinshaw's move from Ford, Wood pipped 2024 champion Will Brown for bragging rights ahead of qualifying and racing on Saturday.
Earlier, Chevrolet Camaros set the pace, with Jack Le Brocq and Anton De Pasquale placing 1-2 in practice one.
The touring car series will head to NZ's South Island for the category's debut in Christchurch next Friday.
Resurgent Brodie Kostecki (485 points) has an early championship lead for the trip across the Tasman, with Cam Waters (457) and Broc Feeney (442) not far behind.
SHARE ME