It is unlikely much of the country will be going far this weekend with everyone huddled around the television for season two of the daily 1 O’Clock government briefing, thus offering the perfect excuse to stay put on the couch and catch up on plenty of New Zealand’s top international talent.
After a lengthy hiatus Supercars are back, as is IndyCar with qualifying for the most important race of the year – The Indy 500. Also in America it is New Zealand taking on NASCAR with Earl Bamber making his one-off debut in stock cars while Barcelona is the venue for round six of the Formula 1 world championship.
Marcus Armstrong
- What: FIA Formula 2 – Spanish Grand Prix
- Where: Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, Spain
- When: R1 SUN 2.45 am | R2 SUN 9.10 pm
- How to follow: Spark Sport
Following a strong start to his maiden F2 campaign which saw Armstrong score two podiums, the young Kiwi has had a forgettable drop in form going three rounds without notching a single point. An outside shot at the title has quickly slipped through Armstrong’s grasp as the ART pilot struggles to solve the questions over his slump in pace.
Both rounds in Silverstone had Armstrong battle a losing war against tyre wear while the weekend before in Hungary was punctuated by a collision in the opening feature race. Spain is another circuit infamous for being notorious on the tyres and could pose more issues for Armstrong and ART if Silverstone’s woes are not rectified.
However, Spain offers an opportunity for a full reset for the Kiwi and he must take away some positives from the last few races including his strong race starts and consistent race pace.
Qualifying has become a recurring theme for Armstrong’s weekend previews but it is the area which he has struggled to maximise across the season.
Liam Lawson
- What: FIA Formula 3 – Spanish Grand Prix
- Where: Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, Spain
- When: R1 SAT 8.25 pm | R2 SUN 7.45 pm
- How to follow: Spark Sport
Lawson comes into Spain on top form as the Red Bull Junior picked up a strong haul of points across both legs of the Silverstone doubleheader highlighted by snagging his second win of the championship.
There is still a sizable points deficit to Prema teammates Logan Sargeant and Oscar Piastri but the young Kiwi has proven to have qualifying speed and race pace strong enough to challenge the established pecking order.
Lawson had a tumultuous tale of a Spanish GP last season in his rookie season with MP Motorsport suffering a mechanical failure in race one and only finishing 17th in the second affair. But his sophomore year has proven to be largely successful and the Kiwi comes into this weekend no doubt itching for another race victory to narrow the lead to the championship leaders.
Supercars Contingent
- What: Bets Easy Darwin Triple Crown
- Where: Hidden Valley Raceway, Australia
- When: R1 SAT 6 pm | R2 SUN 3.50 pm | R3 SUN 6 pm
- How to follow: Sky Sport
What was supposed to headline last weekend, the Darwin Triple Crown at last finds itself on the calendar without border restrictions and quarantine measures to contend with.
Incumbent series champion Scott McLaughlin became the first driver in history to clinch the coveted Triple Crown last year in an emphatic display by the DJR Team Penske team and the Kiwi will be out to defend his title with new regulations meaning the prize will be awarded this year to the driver with the most points accumulated across the round.
Expect more upset winners this weekend with the contentious mixed tyre compound rules in place meaning several midfield runners will look to have a shot at glory by using the best of their softer tyres allotment in one race.
Scott Dixon
- What: 104th running of the Indy 500 – Qualifying
- Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, United States.
- When: Q1 SUN 3 am | Q2 MON 4.30 am
- How to follow: Sky Sport
IndyCar’s blue riband event always throws a few surprises but Scott Dixon will be praying his lightning start to the season continues undisturbed into his ‘home’ event.
The split qualifying sessions offers one of the most exciting moments of the season, and with nine points on the table for pole there is no reason for any driver to play it conservative.
Dixon had a frustrating qualifying session last year and could only wrestle the #9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to 18th, something the Kiwi has already put behind him after a competitive opening practice earlier today saw Dixon’s name rocket to the top of the timesheets.
Only 33 cars have been confirmed to contest this year’s race meaning there will be no bump day with every entry set to make it to the grid for next Sunday’s race.
Earl Bamber
- What: UNOH at Daytona – NASCAR Xfinity Series
- Where: Daytona Road Course, United States
- When: Race SUN 7 am
- How to follow: Sky Sport (Highlights Only) | Live Timing
How cool is it to at last have a Kiwi in NASCAR. While it may only be the baby Xfinity Series, it is no less impressive that two-time Le Mans winner Earl Bamber will don the New Zealand flag behind the wheel of a 650hp stockcar.
Bamber will have literary zero practice to acclimatise to the car and circuit barring the formation lap with NASCAR only running races with a lottery system determining the grid order for each event. However, NASCAR has never ventured onto the 6.1km road course before meaning every driver is in relatively similar boat to Bamber.
Though the Kiwi does have one ace up his sleeve with vast levels of experience at the circuit in GT cars with Porsche in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship.
Bamber did express an interest to run more NASCAR events in the future so this could well be the start of a new chapter in the Kiwi’s record book.
Jaxon Evans
- What: Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Spanish Grand Prix
- Where: Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, Spain
- When: Race SUN 10.25 pm
- How to follow: Spark Sport
It was a weekend of what ifs for Evans last time out at Silverstone. The Porsche Junior was en route for pole position before an unforced error in the final sector left him eighth fastest at the chequered flag.
The Kiwi would then get mired in a midfield train, ruining any chances of a possible podium despite welcome a turn in pace.
Evans can still realistically claim the title with three rounds remaining but will need some fortunate luck to fall his side. He currently sits fourth in the standings but 35 points adrift of provisional leader and BWT Lechner Racing teammate Dylan Pereira.
Brendon Hartley
- What: 6 Hours of Spa – World Endurance Championship
- Where: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- When: Race SAT 11.30 pm
- How to follow: Sky Sport
After splitting from his Formula E contract with GEOX Dragon after only five races, the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hour winner has spent the last two months preparing for his endurance racing return with Toyota.
Hartley has only claimed one win this season at Fuji but will be looking to add to his points tally in the final race before the storied 24 Hours of Le Mans next month.
Courtesy of their indecently fast Toyota TS050 Hybrid, both Toyota’s will be carrying a success ballast to level the playing field. The contentious handicap has led to privateer LMP1 outfit Rebellion Racing being able to challenge for race victories with the championship title now wide open with a 19 point margin between first and third.