After a relatively quiet last weekend, we see the return of several series this week with a range of Kiwis in action.
The weekend is highlighted by Supercars at Sandown and IndyCar in Illinois. With full schedules at both events, we will see Kiwis competing in the main events as well as several support categories.
Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin – IndyCar
- What: Bommarito Automotive Group 500 (St Louis 500)
- Where: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Illinois
- Times: Practice – Saturday 5am; Qualifying – Saturday 8.15am; Race – Sunday 10am
- Where to watch: Sky Sport 5 (Practice and Qualifying); Sky Sport 6 (Race)
Dixon and McLaughlin return to the track after a successful last time out, with the Kiwi duo claiming a 1-2 in Nashville last time out.
Dixon has claimed two victories this year, in Toronto last month and in Nashville. McLaughlin has also won two, with a victory in the season-opening St Petersburg Grand Prix and in Mid-Ohio in early July.
Both New Zealanders remain in contention for the IndyCar championship, with Dixon second, only 6 points behind leader Will Power, and McLaughlin sixth, 58 points off top spot.
The event sees IndyCar take to the egg-shaped oval on the border of Illinois and Missouri, with 260 laps around the 2km circuit.
Shane Van Gisbergen, Andre Heimgartner & Chris Pither – Supercars
- What: Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint
- Where: Sandown International Motor Raceway, Melbourne
- Times: Practices – Friday 3pm & 5.10pm, Saturday 12.10pm; Qualifying – Saturday 3.15pm, Sunday 12.40pm;
- Races: Race 24 – Saturday 5.55pm; Race 25 – Sunday 2.35pm; Race 26 – Sunday 5.35pm
- Where to watch: Sky Sport 5
Supercars return to Sandown for a three-race SuperSprint event, with 36 laps over each race covering the historic circuit.
Van Gisbergen has come away from the last five events with race victories, including both events in Townsville and all three events at The Bend. He has developed a 393 point lead over Cam Waters, meaning even if he went scoreless this round he would still be at the top of the table.
Heimgartner has also been in solid form for BJR, returning to the track after a monster crash at The Bend last time out which saw him fail to finish Race 22 and not start Race 23. Despite this, he still sits inside the top 10 and will be looking to maintain his consistency.
Finally, Chris Pither rounds out the Kiwis in the field, and despite sitting down the order in 21st has been impressive of late, with improved qualifying form seeing him battle the midfield.
Practice 2 is a unique one, being the only session where co-drivers will get race-weekend track time before the Bathurst 1000.
Reid Harker- GT World Challenge Asia
- What: FANATEC GT WORLD CHALLENGE ASIA POWERED BY AWS
- Where: Sugo, Japan
- Times: Race 1– Saturday 7.10pm; Race 2- Sunday 2.30pm
- Where to watch: Live website stream
Harker will partner with Indonesian racer Setiawan Santoso for the EBM Giga Racing entry across two races in the Pro-Am class at Sugo this weekend. Competing in a Porsche 911 GT3 R, the duo have been strong in early practices, claiming top honours ahead of todays qualifying.
The season highlight so far includes a third placed podium finish in Race 2 of the season at Sepang International circuit, with early indications this weekend showing the duo look on-track to replicate the pace which saw them claim the podium spot.
Each race will be 60 minutes.
Hunter McElrea – Indy Lights
- What: Indy Lights at World Wide Technology Raceway
- Where: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Illinois
- Times: Practice – Saturday 7.10am; Qualifying – Saturday 10.15am; Race – Sunday 8.15am
- Where to watch: Live stream
Hunter McElrea will look to continue his form in this weekends Indy Lights event in Illinois, as the series plays support to the main IndyCar event. McElrea sits second in the championship standings, 95 points behind runaway leader Linus Lundqvist.
Recent successes have seen the Kiwi rise to this position, with back-to back wins in both Mid-Ohio and Iowa followed by a podium in the latest event in Nashville.
Matthew Payne – Dunlop Super2
- What: Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint
- Where: Sandown International Motor Raceway, Melbourne
- Times: Qualifying – Saturday 1.00pm, Sunday 12.05pm;
- Races: Saturday 5.25pm, Sunday 5pm
- Where to watch: Sky Sport 5
Returning to Australia after competing in the 24 Hours of Spa, Matthew Payne will be the sole flyer of the New Zealand flag in the weekends Dunlop Super2 series.
Payne has had an impressive season, with consistent results seeing him sit third in the championship, 108 points off leader Declan Fraser. The 19-year-old from Auckland appears set for a promotion to the main game next year, with season highlights including a race win in Perth.
Jordan Michels – Dunlop Super3
- What: Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint
- Where: Sandown International Motor Raceway, Melbourne
- Times: Qualifying – Saturday 11.05am, Sunday 10.15am
- Races: Saturday 3.25pm, Sunday 3pm
- Where to watch: Sky Sport 5
Jordan Michels will make his Super3 Series debut in an ex-Shane van Gisbergen FG Falcon Supercar for Image Racing this weekend after the young Southlander successfully tested for the Erebus Motorsport Academy Team earlier this year.
The Kiwi hopes to be racing at Bathurst later this year.
Callum Hedge & Tim Miles – Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia
- What: Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint
- Where: Sandown International Motor Raceway, Melbourne
- Times: Qualifying – Saturday 11.40am
- Races: Saturday 4.40pm, Sunday 11.20am & 4.20pm
- Where to watch: Sky Sport 5
Two Kiwis will be taking to the track in the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup round at Sandown. Playing support to Supercars, The weekend will feature three races.
Callum Hedge is the best placed New Zealander, sitting in 10th in the championship, and has been impressive of late, with four podiums in the last six races complimented by a race win in Townsville.
Tim Miles sits seventh in the Morris Pro-Am standings.
