A driver taking part in a Taranaki street sprint event crashed into a power pole, bringing down lines and cutting supply to more than 1000 homes.
Nobody was injured in the crash on Connett Rd, Bell Block, near New Plymouth, on Sunday afternoon.
"The car missed the chicane and hit a power pole," Garnett Henderson, one of the event organisers, said.
Up to 300 people were watching the event, which involved 27 cars and was run by the Taranaki Car Club with the approval of Motorsport New Zealand.
Henderson said onlookers were in a protected area and no one was within 40 metres of the crash site.
Eyewitness Annalisa Uncles said: "I just heard this massive crash and my partner saw the car flip and hit the power pole."
Fire and Emergency New Zealand were called to the scene about 2.15pm.
St John attended but no one was transported, a spokesperson said.
About 1200 homes were without power for a time, according to Powerco's website.
Earlier that day, Fire and Emergency were called to a gas rupture on Sole Ave, Bell Block, at 10.10am.
"Someone dug through a gas main and they clamped it until Powerco arrived," a spokesperson said.