Even in the pouring rain, Supercars fans flooded the Taupō International Motorsport Park for the very first time that this event was held in little ol’ Taupō.

Some doubted that an event of this size would even be possible to hold in Taupō but they were proven so wrong, writes Ayla Yeoman who spent the weekend at the event.

Along with mass revenue for Taupō businesses, the town thrived on excitement and fandom.

The completely sold-out event meant there were 67,411 people's eyes focused on the action, along with plenty more people’s eyes glued to the screen watching it live from home.

For a better view, $100 per person got you a birds-eye view of the race from helicopters that were constantly taking fans up in the sky for a different view of the racing.

Helicopter view of the track. Photo: Belle Yeoman.

Taupō International Motorsport Park owner Tony Quinn says in a live on-air press conference after the second ITM Taupō Super400 race on Sunday that this was a huge success and a great weekend for fans, the Government and the track.

In the press conference, Tony flashed the middle finger at “all those people that said, when it was announced that it could never happen in Taupō.”

“At the start of the weekend, all the drivers were concerned about the track's degradation due to the majority of the track being an older surface,” says an event attendee.

Helicopter view of the track. Photo: Belle Yeoman.

“It also meant that drivers had to battle low grip conditions whilst trying to maintain life in the tyres.

“On average each driver and team were averaging 15 lap stints and driving each lap to a particular lap time to help salvage some life span of the tyres.

“It was overall a huge success for Tony Quinn, the track owner, and Supercars themselves with multiple Kiwi drivers, many of whom said it’s been their favourite event in years.”

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia series. Photo: Ayla Yeoman.

Racing series: NZ Formula Ford, Toyota 86 Championship NZ, Central Muscle Cars, Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, and Repco Supercars Championship, wowed the massive crowds.

Kiwi drivers Andre Heimgartner from Auckland, Wellington’s Ryan Wood, Tauranga’s Richie Stanaway, Levin’s Jaxon Evans and Auckland’s Matthew Payne showed the nation what they were made for.

Saturday's wet and wild weather conditions didn’t stop any fan from huddling under an umbrella or poncho to watch Andre’s triumph.

Andre was the first Supercars winner at the Taupō-hosted event.

“It’s Taupō weather don’t worry about it,” Tony tells the NZ Herald before the race.

The Taupo community came together to allow this event to thrive.

NZ Formula Ford. Photo: Ayla Yeoman.

“I want to extend our thanks to Ngāti Tūwharetoa, in particular ngā hapū o te Hikuwai as tangata whenua, for their support of this event,” says Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas.

A pōwhiri led by Tauhara hapū welcomed the Supercars drivers to Taupō where they were unveiled.

The specially craved trophies by master carver Delani Brown – whose recent work includes the central pou and Taupos lakefront space.

The Supercars trophies were carved from locally salvaged 1800-year-old totara tree.

An intense battle between Red Bull Ampol Racing teammates Will Brown from Toowoomba and Broc Feeney from the Gold Coast absorbed the crowd as they battled for first place in the Repco Supercars Championship.

The Black Falcons. Photo: Ayla Yeoman.

The Black Falcons made an appearance to excite the crowds and add another version of super speed to the event.

The only part fans could complain about the event was the gridlock traffic involved, but it’s something everyone signed up for.

"I think overall it was a huge success and proved a lot of doubters wrong," says the event attendee.

"It was a huge success locally which brought in a lot of people from far and wide to little old Taupō and it was a true credit to Tony Quinn and his team to get the Taupō motorsport park up to the standard they did and will be sure to host more successful events in the future."