KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 18-21 SEPTEMBER WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
Kiwi drivers are back in action across Australia and the United States this weekend, with Sydney Motorsport Park and Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosting much of the international action.
Across the Tasman, Sydney Motorsport Park hosts a packed weekend of racing, including Round 5 of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia. Hunter Robb carries New Zealand hopes into the penultimate round, sitting second in the Pro standings, just 16 points from championship leader Kobi Williams.
The same circuit hosts Rounds 9 and 10 of GT World Challenge Australia, where Jaxon Evans, Steve Brooks, Ryan Wood and Brendon Leitch form a strong Kiwi contingent for the Sydney round.
New Zealand interest continues in Monochrome GT4 Australia, with Zach Blincoe, Blake Dowdall and William Exton in action across Rounds 9 and 10. Blincoe makes his series debut alongside Danel Frougas in a GWR Australia Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, earning the opportunity after finishing runner-up in last season’s Bridgestone GR86 Championship.
In the United States, Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts several Kiwis across a busy weekend of sportscar racing. Earl Bamber lines up for Round 10 of the IMSA season at the Battle on the Bricks, while Callum Hedge contests Round 6 of Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
Will Bamber will also be on track at Indianapolis for Round 5 of Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, adding another New Zealand name to the weekend’s action at the famous circuit.
Shane van Gisbergen, meanwhile, continues his NASCAR Cup Series campaign at Bristol Motor Speedway, taking on one of the championship’s most distinctive venues around the high-banked half-mile oval.
With Kiwi drivers spread across seven categories and two countries, there is plenty of New Zealand interest to follow throughout another busy weekend of international motorsport.
Check out our detailed weekend preview below for everything you need to know, including session times, how to watch, and who’s racing where. ⬇️
Hunter Robb | Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia
- Where? Sydney Motorsport Park, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 1:45 PM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 5:30 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 12:10 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 3:55 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 12:10 PM
- Race 3: Sunday 6:25 PM
- How to Watch? No NZ Coverage
Hunter Robb heads to Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend for the penultimate round of the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season, with the Kiwi firmly in the championship fight.
Robb arrives at Round 5 following another consistent showing on the streets of Townsville, where he claimed two podium finishes and a fourth across the three races to leave the weekend still leading the championship.
After qualifying eighth, Robb charged to fourth in the opening race before adding back-to-back third-place finishes on Sunday, keeping himself out of trouble during a disrupted weekend and continuing to bank valuable points.
With just two rounds remaining in the 2026 season, every result becomes increasingly important as Robb looks to maintain his title challenge against the likes of Kobi Williams and Ryan Suhle.
Sydney Motorsport Park hosts the penultimate round from September 18-20, before the championship heads to Sandown Raceway in November for the season finale.
Jaxon Evans, Steve Brooks, Ryan Wood and Brendon Leitch | GT World Challenge Australia
- Where? Sydney Motorsport Park, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 11:25 AM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 7:15 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 4:35 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 5:00 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 9:50 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 4:15 PM
- How to Watch? No NZ Coverage
Four Kiwi drivers will be in action at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend as GT World Challenge Australia returns for Rounds 9 and 10 of the season.
Brendon Leitch continues alongside Sergio Pires after a consistent showing at the previous round in Darwin, where the pair brought home seventh in the opening race before improving to fifth in Race 2.
Ryan Wood and Steve Brooks also return to action together following a strong finish to their Darwin weekend. After placing 12th in Race 1, the Kiwi pairing bounced back to claim second in Race 2 and secure a spot on the podium.
Jaxon Evans completes the New Zealand contingent alongside Elliott Schutte. Their Darwin weekend began with a DNF in the opening race, but the pair recovered strongly in Race 2 to finish sixth.
With four New Zealanders spread across three entries, plenty of Kiwi interest will be on display when the championship takes to Sydney Motorsport Park for Rounds 9 and 10 this weekend.
Zach Blincoe, Blake Dowdall and William Exton | GT4 Australia
- Where? Sydney Motorsport Park, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 2:20 PM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 6:30 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 3:05 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 3:30 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 7:20 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 2:00 PM
- How to Watch? No NZ Coverage
Three Kiwi drivers will be in action at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend as Monochrome GT4 Australia returns for Rounds 9 and 10.
Blake Dowdall arrives after narrowly missing the podium alongside Cooper Cutts in Darwin, charging from ninth to finish fourth in Race 2, just 0.6 seconds from third.
William Exton also returns after he and Jack Johnson won the opening race at Hidden Valley before a power steering issue forced them out of Race 2.
Joining them is Zach Blincoe, who makes his GT4 debut alongside Danel Frougas in a GWR Australia Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2. The drive is part of Blincoe’s prize for finishing runner-up in the 2025/26 Bridgestone GR86 Championship.
With Dowdall and Exton looking to build on strong Darwin performances and Blincoe stepping into GT4 competition for the first time, there will be plenty of Kiwi interest in Sydney.
Earl Bamber & Tom Blomqvist | IMSA SportsCar Championship
- Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 7:25 AM
- Practice 2: Sunday 2:45 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 9:05 AM
- Race: Monday 7:10 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA Official YouTube Channel
Two New Zealanders will be on the IMSA grid at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, with Earl Bamber and Tom Blomqvist both set to contest the Battle on the Bricks.
Bamber returns to IMSA competition with Cadillac Whelen after missing the most recent GTP round at Road America. His last appearance came at Watkins Glen in June, where he shared the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R with Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti.
The trio converted pole position into victory in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, controlling much of the endurance race to claim a strong win. The result also extended Bamber and Aitken’s impressive run to eight consecutive IMSA podium finishes dating back to last season.
Fellow Kiwi Tom Blomqvist will also be in GTP action at Indianapolis, continuing his campaign with Acura Meyer Shank Racing alongside co-driver Colin Braun.
Blomqvist and Braun will take on Bamber and the Cadillac squad as the IMSA season heads into another endurance test at the Battle on the Bricks.
Callum Hedge | Porsche Carrera Cup North America
- Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 12:55 AM
- Practice 2: Saturday 5:25 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 11:05 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 4:35 AM
- Race 2: Monday 3:20 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA Official YouTube Channel
Callum Hedge heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend for Round 6 of Porsche Carrera Cup North America, looking to build on a double victory at Road America.
The Kiwi endured a difficult start to the previous round when a terminal issue forced him to retire from second place on the final lap of Race 1, despite showing strong pace and setting the fastest lap.
Hedge responded in impressive fashion, converting pole position into victory in Race 2 before doing it again in a wet and disrupted Race 3 to complete a double win for the weekend.
Those results helped Hedge close the gap in the championship, leaving him third on 150 points and 33 behind leader Tyler Maxson heading into Indianapolis.
With the championship entering its closing stages, Hedge will be looking to carry his Road America momentum into Round 6 this weekend.
Will Bamber | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America
- Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 1:40 AM
- Practice 2: Saturday 6:20 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 12:50 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 10:45 AM
- Race 2: Monday 4:20 AM
- How to Watch? Lamborghini Squadra Corse YouTube Channel
Will Bamber returns to Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America action this weekend for Round 5 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, looking to build on a race victory last time out.
Bamber and teammate Darius Trinka started the opening race of the previous round from pole, with the Kiwi leading much of his opening stint before handing the car over during the pit window.
Trinka returned to the track at the front and held on through late-race rain to secure victory for the pairing by just under a second.
Their weekend ended on a tougher note with a DNF in Race 2, but Bamber and Trinka now head to Indianapolis looking to return to the front as the championship enters its closing stages.
Shane van Gisbergen | NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Bristol Motor Speedway, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Saturday 8:30 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 9:40 AM
- Race: Sunday 11:30 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Shane van Gisbergen heads to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend as his NASCAR Cup Series campaign continues on one of the calendar’s most challenging short tracks.
The Kiwi arrives at Bristol following a frustrating race at Gateway, where he spent much of the afternoon outside the Top 20 before a late strategy call propelled the #97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet into contention for a Top-10 finish.
Van Gisbergen climbed from 18th to fourth by staying out during a late caution and remained in the fight despite running on older tyres.
His recovery was ultimately undone in overtime when contact amid an incident involving Denny Hamlin and Carson Hocevar sent the #97 spinning, leaving van Gisbergen 23rd at the finish.
He now turns his attention to Bristol for another chance to build his experience on NASCAR’s demanding short ovals.
Header Image: GT World Challenge Australia
