Drivers make a splash in New Zealand ahead of Auckland SuperSprint

Drivers go rafting

Whitewater rafting alongside an All Black great and sheep shearing were just two of the activities Virgin Australia Supercars Drivers took part in this morning as part of their preparations for this weekend's ITM Auckland SuperSprint.

All Black great Josh Kronfeld joined Supercars' drivers Chaz Mostert, Will Davison, James Golding and Todd Hazelwood to take one of south Auckland's newest attractions the Vector Wero Whitewater Park, going full-speed down a giant drop for some thrill-seeking ahead of this weekend's SuperSprint.

Meanwhile the Red Bull Holden duo of seven-time Champion Jamie Whincup and kiwi fan favorite Shane van Gisbergen had a race of a different kind, a sheep shearing competition in Pukekohe.

Whincup is chasing an eighth career title and says he will also be doing everything he can to help van Gisbergen, who is just 14 points behind current Championship leader Scott McLaughlin with just two rounds remaining in the season.

Supercheap Ford driver Mostert may be out of Championship contention but enters this weekend on the back of his first race victory of 2018 a fortnight ago on the Gold Coast and says he is out to finish his year on a high.

van Gisbergen liked shearing a sheep

This year marks the sixth-time drivers will compete for the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy at Pukekohe since it was first introduced in 2013. Richards’ former Tasman Motorsport teammate Jamie Whincup is the only repeat winner, claiming the trophy in 2015 and again last year.

Practice for this weekend's ITM Auckland SuperSprint, the penultimate round of the Supercars Championship begins at 11:15am local time tomorrow morning, with P2 to begin at 3:10pm local time.

ARMOR ALL Qualifying and the opening 200km race of the 2018 ITM Auckland SuperSprint will be held on Saturday afternoon, before another round of ARMOR ALL Qualifying and the second 200km race of the weekend is held on Sunday.

Every Supercars practice, qualifying and race will be broadcast live, ad-break free on Fox Sports 506 in Australia and on Sky Sport 4 in New Zealand this weekend.