V8 Supercar drivers will get their first taste of the new 3.4km Hamilton Street circuit during practice today in preparation for tomorrow's qualifying session and opening race.
A few showers have been predicted for the weekend but organisers are still expecting more than 150,000 fans through the gates over the three days of the inaugural event, which takes over from Pukekohe as New Zealand's only round of the year.
Ford driver Jamie Whincup goes in to the weekend as series leader after two rounds, ahead of the Holden's of Rick Kelly and Lee Holdsworth.