KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 2-5 OCTOBER WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
Kiwi drivers are set for another huge weekend of international motorsport, with New Zealand interest stretching across Formula 1, NASCAR, IMSA, GT racing, Porsche Carrera Cup and rallying.
Liam Lawson leads the Kiwi charge in Formula 1 as the championship makes its long-awaited return to Sepang International Circuit. The Malaysian venue will host the relocated Bahrain Grand Prix, marking Formula 1’s first race at Sepang since 2017.
In the United States, Shane van Gisbergen continues his NASCAR Cup Series campaign at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, looking to bounce back after another challenging outing at Kansas Speedway last weekend.
China hosts another strong Kiwi contingent, with Jaxon Evans and Brendon Leitch heading to the streets of Beijing for Rounds 9 and 10 of GT World Challenge Asia. The temporary 4.9km Beijing Street Circuit provides a very different challenge as the championship enters the closing stages of its 2026 season.
Road Atlanta will also be a major focus for New Zealand motorsport fans, beginning with Callum Hedge in Porsche Carrera Cup North America as the championship reaches its penultimate round.
The headline event at the Georgia circuit is the 10-hour Petit Le Mans, with a sizeable Kiwi contingent spread across three classes. Earl Bamber, Tom Blomqvist and Scott Dixon will compete in the top GTP category, while Hunter McElrea lines up in LMP2 and Ryan Yardley adds further New Zealand interest in GTD.
Meanwhile, Bryn Jones returns to the gravel in Portugal alongside co-driver Max Freeman for Rallye Casinos do Algarve, the fourth round of the Peugeot Rally Cup Portugal.
After several months competing on tarmac, Jones heads into the weekend looking forward to getting back onto the loose surface, where his experience from competing in New Zealand could come into play.
With Kiwi drivers competing across six major international categories, there is plenty to watch in another packed weekend of motorsport around the world.
Check out our detailed weekend preview below for everything you need to know, including session times, how to watch, and who’s racing where. ⬇️
Liam Lawson | Formula 1
- Where? Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 5:30 PM
- Practice 2: Friday 9:00 PM
- Practice 3: Saturday 5:30 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 9:00 PM
- Grand Prix: Sunday 8:00 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Liam Lawson heads to Sepang International Circuit this weekend looking to bounce back from a frustrating Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Kiwi finished 12th in Baku after contact with Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad sent him spinning during a late restart. Lawson had been running within reach of the points before the incident, but was able to continue despite floor damage and recover several positions before the chequered flag.
Lindblad went on to finish seventh and secure valuable points for Racing Bulls, while Lawson admitted the team had struggled for outright pace throughout the weekend.
Attention now turns to Malaysia, where Formula 1 returns to Sepang International Circuit for the first time since 2017.
The 5.543km circuit provides a very different challenge to the streets of Baku, combining long straights with a mixture of fast, flowing corners. Malaysia’s heat and humidity will also test the drivers, while unpredictable weather has often played a part at Sepang.
After a difficult weekend in Azerbaijan, Lawson and Racing Bulls will be hoping to find more pace in Malaysia and put the Kiwi back in contention for points.
Shane Van Gisbergen | NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Las Vegas Motor Speedway, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Sunday 9:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 10:35 AM
- Race: Monday 10:30 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Shane van Gisbergen heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend looking for a stronger showing after another difficult outing at Kansas Speedway.
The Kiwi battled ongoing handling issues with his #97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro last weekend, with radio problems adding to a challenging day. Despite the setbacks, van Gisbergen made it to the chequered flag in 24th.
Attention now turns to Las Vegas, where the 1.5-mile oval presents another opportunity for van Gisbergen to continue building his oval racing experience.
The high-speed circuit will provide another tough test for the three-time Supercars champion, who has continued to make progress on NASCAR’s ovals throughout his Cup Series campaign.
After a difficult run at Kansas, van Gisbergen and the #97 Trackhouse Racing crew will look to find a more comfortable balance and move up the field in Las Vegas.
Brendon Leitch and Jaxon Evans | GT World Challenge Asia
- Where? Beijing Street Circuit, China
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Friday 8:55 PM
- Pre Qualifying: Saturday 1:30 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 4:50 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 5:12 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 8:45 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 6:00 PM
- How to Watch? GT World YouTube
Jaxon Evans and Brendon Leitch head to the streets of Beijing this weekend as GT World Challenge Asia reaches its penultimate round of the season.
Evans arrives in China fresh from his first victory of the season alongside co-driver Andrés Pato at Okayama International Circuit. After recovering from 13th to finish ninth overall and fifth in Pro-Am in Race 1, Evans started Race 2 from pole and helped deliver a lights-to-flag victory for Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom.
Leitch and co-driver Jiajun Song endured a tougher opening race in Japan, retiring after a crash, before bouncing back with seventh overall and fourth in Pro-Am in Race 2.
Attention now turns to the Beijing Street Circuit for Rounds 9 and 10, bringing a completely different challenge as the championship swaps Okayama’s permanent circuit for the tight confines of street racing.
With just two rounds remaining in the season, both Kiwi drivers will be looking to carry their Race 2 momentum from Japan into another important weekend of GT World Challenge Asia competition.
Callum Hedge | Porsche Carrera Cup North America
- Where? Road Atlanta, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Thursday 3:55 AM
- Practice 2: Thursday 8:30 AM
- Qualifying: Friday 2:50 AM
- Race 1: Friday 10:25 AM
- Race 2: Saturday 8:55 AM
- How to Watch? Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube Channel
Callum Hedge heads to Road Atlanta this weekend as the Porsche Carrera Cup North America season reaches its penultimate round. The Kiwi enters Round 7 sitting third in the championship after a mixed weekend last time out, which included another podium finish in Race 2.
Hedge had been running fourth for much of the opening race before late contact with Jared Thomas resulted in a penalty, dropping him to 16th overall and 11th in the Pro class.
He bounced back strongly in Race 2, moving from fourth to third early and holding the position to secure another podium for his 2026 campaign.
Hedge remains third in the championship standings, five points ahead of Janne Stiak in fourth, making the two races at Road Atlanta important as the season moves towards its finale.
With another valuable haul of points on offer, Hedge will be looking to strengthen his position in the standings and add to his podium tally this weekend.
Earl Bamber, Tom Blomqvist, Scott Dixon and Hunter McElrea | IMSA SportsCar Championship
- Where? Road Atlanta, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 3:40 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 8:20 AM
- Practice 3: Friday 12:30 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 7:20 AM
- Race: Sunday 5:10 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA Official YouTube Channel
A strong contingent of Kiwi drivers will tackle one of North America’s biggest endurance races this weekend as the IMSA season heads to Road Atlanta for Petit Le Mans.
Earl Bamber arrives at the season finale with momentum after finishing second alongside Jack Aitken at the Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis, while fellow Kiwi Tom Blomqvist finished fifth.
Scott Dixon returns to IMSA competition after wrapping up his IndyCar season, joining Blomqvist and Colin Braun in the Acura Meyer Shank Racing entry for the 10-hour race. Bamber will also compete in the top GTP class.
New Zealand interest extends beyond GTP, with Hunter McElrea returning to the LMP2 class for United Autosports USA alongside Phil Fayer and Mikkel Jensen.
Ryan Yardley completes the five-strong Kiwi contingent, returning to the GTD class with RS1 alongside Jan Heylen and Zachary Vanier.
With five New Zealanders spread across three classes, plenty of Kiwi interest will be on display throughout the 10-hour Petit Le Mans as the IMSA season comes to a close.
Bryn Jones | Peugeot Rally Cup Portugal
- Where? Algarve, Portgual
- NZ Times:
- Shakedown: Friday 7:00 PM
- SS1: Saturday 4:18 AM
- SS2: Saturday 4:46 AM
- Show Stage: Saturday 9:00 AM
- SS3: Saturday 9:28 PM
- SS4: Saturday 10:21 PM
- SS5: Saturday 11:09 PM
- SS6: Sunday 1:57 AM
- SS7: Sunday 2:50 AM
- SS8: Sunday 3:38 AM
- Show Stage 2: Sunday 4:41 AM
- How to Watch? No coverage
- Live Timing HERE
Bryn Jones and co-driver Max Freeman return to gravel this weekend as the Peugeot Rally Cup Portugal heads south for Round 4, Rallye Casinos do Algarve.
The Kiwi heads into the event fresh from a sixth-place finish in the Peugeot Rally Cup at Rali da Água, where the pair battled through challenging conditions to secure another solid result.
This weekend marks Jones’ first gravel rally since Rali D’Aboboreira in April, having spent the past several months competing on tarmac.
Gravel is a surface Jones knows well from his time rallying in New Zealand, and he is looking forward to returning to familiar territory after showing promising pace during the previous gravel round before an accident ended their event.
Jones and Freeman will once again campaign their Peugeot 208 Rally4 with PT Racing, looking to build on their experience in Portugal while targeting a strong result as the championship enters its later stages.
Header Image: Alastair Staley/LAT Images via Red Bull Content Pool
