A sprint car driver is in a serious condition in Auckland's Middlemore Hospital, after a crash during a Christchurch race meeting

Ruapuna Speedway's confirmed the driver suffered serious burns when fuel ignited during Saturday's crash.

He's undergone surgery, and is in a serious but stable condition.

Ruapuna has initiated a full investigation into what it's calling a freak accident.

They are stressing it was an abnormal accident, and not typical of Speedway racing.