It’s a busy weekend for the Kiwis as the international motor racing scene starts to spring into action. It is the beginning of the American open-wheel season, as Scott Dixon and rising star Hunter McElrea launch their campaigns. Here’s your guide for the weekend ahead…
Supercars Contingent
- What: Beaurepaires Melbourne 400
- Where: Albert Park Circuit, Australia
- When: R3 FRI 3:50 PM | R4 SAT 2:00 PM | R5 SAT 5:20 PM | R6 SUN 3:00 PM
- How to follow: Sky Sport 5 | Live Timing
It was a strong start to the season for the Kiwis, with defending Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin once again walking away from the opening round with a 17-point lead over Jamie Whincup in the championship.
Shane Van Gisbergen will be looking to bounce back after wretched luck squandered his chance of an almost-certain victory in race two. He currently sits 13th in the championship despite a strong weekend.
This is the third year in which the support race of the Australian Grand Prix has been part of the official Supercars calendar.
Last year, McLaughlin won three out of the four races in what was a dominant display.
There are also questions surrounding Team Sydney’s replacement for James Courtney, after the latter left the team in acrimonious circumstances shortly after the first round in Adelaide. Pither is expected to remain with the team for the remainder of the season.
Scott Dixon
- What: NTT IndyCar Series – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
- Where: Streets of St. Petersburg, United States
- When: MON 7:30 AM
- How to follow: Sky Sport 5 | Indycar Race Control
Chip Ganassi Racing driver Scott Dixon will be heading into his 18th season in the premier American open-wheel championship, but is showing no signs of slowing down.
Last season, Dixon fought valiantly against the might of the Team Penske outfit, posting consistent results and keeping himself in the title hunt throughout the duration of the season.
Josef Newgarden will enter the season as the defending champion.
Dixon has never won on the Streets of St. Petersburg before, but the last four outings on the Florida circuit have seen Dixon finish in the top-seven on all those occasions, with a best result of second last year.
Felix Rosenqvist will remain as Dixon’s team-mate at Chip Ganassi Racing whilst also being joined by former Formula One driver Marcus Ericsson.
Hunter McElrea
- What: Indy Pro 2000 Championship – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
- Where: Streets of St. Petersburg, United States
- When: R1 SAT 5:25 AM | R2 SUN 3:45 AM
- How to follow: roadtoindy.tv
One of the most exciting Kiwi prospects in open-wheel racing, Hunter McElrea will be looking build off the momentum from last year’s U.S.F2000 Championship, where he narrowly missed out on the championship in his maiden season.
Driving with the Pabst Racing – the same outfit he competed with in last year’s U.S.F2000 Championship – McElrea’s will be looking for an equally competitive season before a potential move to Indy Lights next season, and onto his eventual goal of the IndyCar Series.
McElrea ran well in the U.S.F2000 round of St. Petersburg last season, finishing third and second in the first two races of the season.
A competitive start for the rising star will greatly help his 2020 campaign.
Jack Milligan and Jordan Michels
- Jack Milligan
- What: TCR Asia-Pacific Cup / TCR Australia
- Where: Albert Park Circuit, Australia
- When: R1 FRI 11:40 AM | R2 SAT 1:25 PM | R3 SUN 12:40 PM
- How to follow: Live Timing
- Jordan Michels
- What: Australian S5000 Championship
- Where: Albert Park Circuit, Australia
- When: R1 FRI 12:50 PM | R2 SUN 1:40 PM
- How to follow: Live Timing
Jack Milligan will head to the Australian Grand Prix with New Zealand team Track Tec Racing as the sole Kiwi competitors in the TCR Asia Pacific Cup.
The round also doubles as a non-championship round of the TCR Australia Touring Car Series. Milligan will be joined at Track Tec Racing by Dutch Supercar champion Stan van Oord.
Jordan Michels will be competing in the first round of the Australian S5000 Championship. Michels will be driving for the Australian Racing Enterprise team in his maiden outing in the championship. He will be part of what is a star-studded field.
Notable entries include Rubens Barrichello, Giancarlo Fisichella, Alexandre Premat and Jack Aitken.