Here we are- the year’s last big weekend of international motorsport, with Supercars and several other series wrapping up their 2023 campaigns.
There’s plenty of opportunity for Kiwis to claim titles this weekend, with Shane van Gisbergen, Callum Hedge and Liam Sceats all in with a realistic shot.
A fourth Supercars title will be the perfect sendoff for van Gisbergen, who ventures out for the final time at the Adelaide 500 before switching Stateside to join the NASCAR ranks.
While plenty of action keeps us busy during the day, the season-finale of Formula 1 ensures overnight viewing, too.
Sit back and make the most of the busy weekend before the international motorsport scene hibernates until January.
See below to see who’s in action this weekend and how you can follow!
Shane van Gisbergen, Andre Heimgartner & Matt Payne: Adelaide 500
- Where? Adelaide Street Circuit, South Australia
- NZ Times:
- Practice 2: Friday 3.05 pm
- Race 27 Qualifying: Friday 8.05 pm
- Practice 3: Saturday 12.15 pm
- Race 27 Top 10 Shootout: Saturday 2.35 pm
- Race 27: Saturday 5.20 pm
- Race 28 Qualifying: Sunday 12.45 pm
- Race 28 Top 10 Shootout: Sunday 2.35 pm
- Race 28: Sunday 5.15 pm
- How to watch? Sky Sport 5 (055)
One-hundred and thirty-one points. That’s the difference between Shane van Gisbergen and a fourth Supercars crown, with Brodie Kostecki holding the advantage ahead of two races at the Adelaide 500. Kostecki can seal the title in the opener if he outscores van Gisbergen by 20 points.
Andre Heimgartner will be looking to secure the best championship result of his career, sitting sixth but only one point ahead of Tickford’s Cam Waters.
Matt Payne, meanwhile, has all but secured top rookie honours, and should his strong run of form continue, a top-10 finish in the championship remains a distant possibility. He sits 14th, 129 points behind 10th-placed Jack Le Brocq.
Callum Hedge & Fabian Coulthard: Adelaide 500
- Where? Adelaide Street Circuit, South Australia
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Friday 1.05 pm
- Race 1: Friday 5.55 pm
- Race 2: Saturday 3.20 pm
- Race 3: Sunday 3.15 pm
- How to watch? Sky Sport 5 (055)
Just 21 points separate Callum Hedge and 2023 Carrera Cup title rival Jackson Walls ahead of this weekend’s round at the Adelaide 500.
Friday afternoon’s race is the final Enduro Cup round for the season, set at 24 laps, with Dylan O’Keefe holding a 17-point advantage over the Kiwi. Saturday and Sunday’s races are 11 laps a piece.
Fabian Coulthard is also in action and sits seventh in the standings.
Ryan Wood: Adelaide 500
- Where? Adelaide Street Circuit, South Australia
- NZ Times:
- Race 1 Qualifying: Friday 2.20 pm
- Race 2 Qualifying: Friday 7.20 pm
- Race 1: Saturday 3.55 pm
- Race 2: Sunday 3.50 pm
- How to watch? Sky Sport 5 (055)
Ryan Wood features in his final Dunlop Series round before making the jump up to the main game for Walkinshaw Andretti United next season.
Wood sits third in the standings, 231 points behind leader Zak Best, having won three races and claimed two pole positions this year.
Kaleb Ngatoa: Adelaide 500
- Where? Adelaide Street Circuit, South Australia
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Friday 12.25 pm
- Race 1: Friday 4.45 pm
- Race 2: Saturday 1.15 pm
- Race 3: Sunday 11.00 am
- How to watch? Sky Sport 5 (055)
Kaleb Ngatoa returns to the S5000 fold to fill in for an ill Roberto Merhi, who was hospitalised with a bad case of the ‘Bali Belly’.
Ngatoa competed in the category in 2021/22 and took three race wins.
Trans-Tasman Touring Car Masters: Adelaide 500
- Where? Adelaide Street Circuit, South Australia
- NZ Times:
- Trophy Race: Friday 11.55 am
- Race 1: Friday 6.45 pm
- Race 2: Saturday 2.00 pm
- Race 3: Sunday 1.55 pm
- How to watch? Sky Sport 5 (055)
A seven-strong New Zealand Touring Car Masters contingent has descended on the Adelaide 500 to face off in a Trans-Tasman showdown.
New Zealand competitors include Colin Meadows (Chevrolet Camaro), Sean McCaughan (Ford Falcon XY GTHO), Tim Dawson (Ford Falcon XE), Dennis Lovegrove (Pontiac Firebird), Tony Galbraith (Valiant Charger), Lance Hughes (Holden Torana SLR5000) and Craig Buchanan (Ford Mustang GT350).
The round is the second for the Kiwis, who last competed at the Bathurst International.
Liam Sceats: Formula Regional Japanese Championship
- Where? Sportsland Sugo, Japan
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Saturday 1.30 pm
- Race 1: Saturday 4.45 pm
- Race 2: Sunday 2.30 pm
- Race 3: Sunday 6.15 pm
- How to watch? Free live stream (YouTube)
Liam Sceats can win the Formula Regional Japanese Championship this weekend should he overturn a 28-point deficit to leader Sota Ogawa.
Sceats has finished on the podium six times in 2023, with three coming as race wins.
Header Image: Mark Horsburgh / Red Bull Content Pool
