The weekend saw the emergence of future champion, Scott McLaughlin, who captured his first win in the category after debuting full-time earlier that year.

This year also saw the introduction of the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy; an award presented to the driver with the highest accumulated point total from the event.

Not long after the V8 Supercar category started racing in New Zealand in 2001, Pukekohe's place on the calendar had remained in question.

[2] After extensive talks regarding improvements to track facilities, a five-year agreement was penned between V8 Supercars, the Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED), New Zealand Government, Auckland Council and Counties Racing Club, to have the championship return to Pukekohe Park Raceway for 2013.

Improvements to the circuit included track resurfacing, enhanced viewing areas and an additional overhead bridge between the hairpin and pit entry.

The excessive debris left from the tyre explosion warranted a safety car and thus limited the damage time-wise for Winterbottom.

McLaughlin withheld the pressure from Bright and came home to win the first race at Pukekohe since its return to the V8 Supercar calendar.

Confusion reigned immediately as Fabian Coulthard jumped the start while Lee Holdsworth didn't move at all owing to a clutch issue.

Coulthard's jump resulted in a ten-second penalty while Whincup and Lowndes scrapped for the effective lead of the race.

But once they reached there, multiple drivers - including van Gisbergen, Bright, James Courtney and McLaughlin - spun off the track.