Mugello will be the centre of action in International motorsport this weekend with the finale of the Formula 3 season as well as another hotly contested round of Formula 2. Likewise, after months of uncertainty Mid-Ohio has landed a place on the IndyCar calendar and plays host to a doubleheader round of both the premier series and the Indy Pro 2000 junior category. Also keep an eye out for Nick Cassidy who returns to the Super GT series within earshot of the title lead.
So, here is your guide to it all.
Liam Lawson
- What: FIA Formula 3 – Tuscan Grand Prix
- Where: Mugello, Italy
- When: R1 SAT 8.25 pm | R2 SUN 7.45 pm
- How to follow: Spark Sport
Realistically, a fifth of the entire F3 field is mathematically within a chance of the winning the crown this weekend. But it will take something shy of a miracle for one of the two runaway Premas to blow their lead with either Oscar Piastri or Logan Sargeant in the box seat.
Lawson sits back in fourth and will need podiums in both races to keep his improbable championship hopes alive. Last weekend in Monza once again was another disappointing performance by Hitech who has struggled to give their lead Kiwi a competitive car all season.
Whether his fortunes can turn around for the season finale remains unknown but no doubt Lawson will leave 2020 proud of his impressive efforts to carry a dogged car to the final round with still a chance of clinching the championship.
Marcus Armstrong
- What: FIA Formula 2 – Tuscan Grand Prix
- Where: Mugello, Italy
- When: R1 SUN 2.45 am | R2 SUN 9.10 pm
- How to follow: Spark Sport
2020 has been a horrid year for Armstrong as he has failed to score a point in 11 races with the team that has won the F2 championship the last two seasons. His Danish teammate Christian Lundgaard is constantly battling towards the pointy end of the grid while Armstrong struggles to crack the top-15.
The Kiwi very nearly had a turn in fortunes after a daring strategy to pit early in the feature race last weekend at Monza placed him inside the top-10, but he fell away in the dying stages.
Fortunately, very few drivers in the field have raced at Mugello before so it creates a more even playing field ahead of the weekend.
Scott Dixon
- What: NTT INDYCAR Series
- Where: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, United States
- When: R1 SUN 6.30 am | R2 MON 5 am
- How to follow: Sky Sport
It is a matter if not when for the Iceman who holds a mammoth 96-point lead over Josef Newgarden in the standings with five races left to play.
The Kiwi can in theory win the crown this weekend but it will take a real nightmare by Newgarden to do so. Nonetheless, a strong result at Mid-Ohio, a course Dixon has won on six times including last year, will put the Kiwi in a strong position to become the first driver since 2005 to seal the title before the season finale.
Similarly, no driver has won a championship after leading the championship standings for every race since since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2001. So there is plenty on the line for Dixon this weekend.
Nick Cassidy
- What: Super GT
- Where: Twin Ring Motegi, Japan
- When: SUN 4 pm
- How to follow: The-Race YouTube Live Stream
Nick Cassidy will be the subject of yet another hefty success ballast this weekend as Super GT looks to put an anchor on the leading TOMs Supra duo. The Kiwi is second in the points ladder, unable to replicate his round one victory with a fourth- and seventh-place finishes in the next two races.
Motegi was the scene of Cassidy’s last race in the Super FORMULA series and also the site of his sole win in Super GT last year, so he is very experienced with the circuit.
The championship will revisit Motegi for its penultimate round in November so this weekend will give Cassidy a good indication for how to approach the final leg of the season with a second career title up for grabs.
Hunter McElrea
- What: Indy Pro 2000
- Where: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, United States
- When: R1 SUN 4.15 am | R2 SUN 1 am
- How to follow: Live Timing
2020 has been a rollercoaster of a year for Indy Pro 2000 debutant McElrea. The Kiwi was dead last in the championship after the opening round following two separate incidents. But since then he has unlocked impressive car speed and has scored four podiums in the last six races to place him back in title contention.
A maiden win still eludes McElrea but Mid-Ohio was the scene of only his second win on American soil in USF2000 last year. That weekend he scored a victory and a second to win the round, a feat he will be aiming to emulate as he narrows the points deficit to the championship leaders.