Motorsport is well and truly back in top gear this weekend, with a smorgasbord of Kiwi action to keep you entertained.
From two wheels to four, and defending champions to rookies, there is a little bit of everything for everyone. Supercars hit Tasmania, IndyCar kicks off, GT and endurance racing starts its European seasons, and New Zealand’s next MotoGP star begins his international career.
Here is your guide to it all.
Supercars Contingent
- What: Beaurepaires Tasmania Supersprint
- Where: Symmons Plains, Tasmania
- When: R1 SAT 6.25 pm | R2 SUN 3.35 pm | R3 SUN 6.25 pm
- How to follow: Sky Sport
Shane van Gisbergen remains unbeaten in this year’s Supercars championship, overcoming a shoulder injury to clean sweep the last round at Sandown.
The Kiwi star now has eyes on re-writing a piece of history this weekend if he manages to win the first two races this weekend.
Winning race one will tie him with Allan Moffat and Mark Skaife as the only drivers to have won the first six races of a season. Though no driver in ATCC/Supercars history has won seven straight – and given van Gisbergen’s form, you wouldn’t bet against him doing so.
Andre Heimgartner announced he would be racing with fellow Kiwi Earl Bamber in this year’s Bathurst 1000 earlier in the week. He will be hoping to carry on his strong start to the season, which has him sit seventh in the championship.
Meanwhile, Fabian Coulthard has had a shaky first two rounds in his first season with Team Sydney. Here’s hoping he can turn around his fortune this weekend at the circuit he secured his maiden Supercars win at back in 2013.
Scott Dixon & Scott McLaughlin
- What: Honda Grand Prix of Alabama
- Where: Barber Motorsport Park, United States
- When: MON 7 am
- How to follow: Sky Sport
Great Scott…there are two Kiwis on the IndyCar grid this year.
What is more, both are driving for two of the sport’s ‘big-guns’ in Chip Ganassi and Team Penske.
Dixon received his 2020 championship ring last week, and he now has enough rings to wear them on both hands. He will be targeting a seventh-career crown this year and begins his championship challenge at a circuit he has claimed eight podiums at since 2010.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin makes his second IndyCar start this weekend and his first in his full-time rookie campaign.
Hunter McElrea
- What: Indy Pro 2000
- Where: Barber Motorsport Park
- When: R1 SUN 4.10 am | R2 MON 2.10 am
- How to follow: Road to Indy YouTube
Hunter McElrea was sublime in pre-season testing for the Indy Pro 2000 season. The Kiwi finished inside the top-five in every session he participated in, giving him plenty of confidence for the year ahead.
Importantly, the test was at Barber Motorsport Park, the same circuit that opens the new season.
Read More: McElrea sees no reason why he can’t win the title
McElrea picked up his maiden Indy Pro 2000 win in the final round of last year’s championship at St Petersburg. It means he now knows what it takes to power himself to victory lane.
Peter Vodanovich & Billy Frazer
- What: USF2000
- Where: Barber Motorsport Park
- When: R1 SUN 1 am | R2 SUN 8.50 am
- How to follow: Road to Indy YouTube
Vodanovich and Frazer were rivals in this year’s Toyota Racing Series. Now the two will be going head-to-head stateside.
USF2000 is the first step on the Road to Indy, with the end goal being a drive in the IndyCar Series.
The duo both looked competitive in their two-day test last week but are yet to experience a proper race weekend.
Plenty of hurdles will need to be climbed by both, especially learning the ins and outs of a new car, as well as a new circuit each race. This year will also see the USF2000 field go oval racing; something neither are yet to experience.
Cormac Buchanan
- What: Red Bull Rookies Cup
- Where: Portimão, Portugal
- When: R1 SUN 3.20 am | R2 MON 2.40 am
- How to follow: Red Bull TV (free)
He isn’t even old enough to legally ride a motorcycle on New Zealand roads. Yet, Cormac Buchanan is now representing his country on the world stage.
The 14-year-old who hails from Southland is set to start his debut Red Bull Rookies Cup meeting this weekend at the Portimão circuit in Portugal.
He has been heralded as one of the best riders to come out of New Zealand in recent history, winning two NZ Superbike titles this year.
Buchanan completed his first laps of the new bike during a test last week, with lap times suggesting he is in the top half of the field.
Before departing to Europe, Buchanan caught up with Velocity News where he said his sole goal is “to be a MotoGP world champion” – something no New Zealander has ever achieved.
Read our catch-up with Buchanan here.
Earl Bamber
- What: GT World Challenge Europe
- Where: Monza, Italy
- When: MON 1 am
- How to follow: YouTube
Earlier today it was announced Bamber will be sporting the iconic colours of Martini Racing for this year’s GT World Challenge Europe season.
The Kiwi will be racing with French squad GPX Racing, who have invested heavily into their operations during the off-season. Formula 2 team ART GP have come onboard with the team, which will field a Porsche 911 GT3 R for the five-round season.
Since leaving his role as a factory Porsche driver at the end of 2020, Bamber has already set-up his own IMSA GTD squad, which made its debut in January’s Daytona 24 Hour.
The two-time Le Mans winner then confirmed his spot on the Nürburgring 24 Hour grid with the Frikadelli Racing Team.
Jaxon Evans
- What: European Le Mans
- Where: Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona
- When: SUN 11 pm
- How to follow: YouTube
Evan’s 2021 calendar is quickly shaping up to be the young Kiwi’s most exiting one yet.
Alongside his Porsche Supercup commitments, Evans will be racing in this year’s full World Endurance Championship, as well as the European Le Mans series, which kicks off this weekend.
Evans will be driving alongside Christian Ried and Porsche factory driver Gianmaria Bruni for the four-hour race.
“Ecstatic to be kicking off my 2021 racing season at the opening round of the European Le Mans Series in Barcelona,” Evans said.
“A new car and series for me, but eager to learn from reigning LMGTE Champions – Proton Competition, Christian Ried and Porsche Works Driver – Gianmaria Bruni. A great opportunity to familiarise myself with the team in a race environment, before the WEC season kicks off two weeks later.”