Back to business!
The Xfinity Series and World Endurance Championship see three of New Zealand’s best called to action this weekend.
Shane van Gisbergen looks to back up his Atlanta podium as he ventures out at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday morning, while Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley begin their respective Hypercar campaigns in the WEC’s Qatar 1812km.
Unfortunately, the WEC doesn’t appear in Sky’s schedule at this stage, with their paid live stream appearing as the only way to watch the race. We’ll reach out to them over the next few days to find out what’s going on and what it means for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Formula 1 World Championship begins early this Sunday morning with the Bahrain Grand Prix, which IS on Sky. No Kiwis are competing this year, but public interest in the event is strong, being the first chance we get to see the 2024 cars run in anger.
Will we see another Verstappen-dominated championship?
For all the times and viewing information you need, see below.
As always, enjoy the weekend!
Shane van Gisbergen: Xfinity Series
- Where? Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Saturday 12.35 am
- Qualifying: Saturday 1.05 pm
- Race: Sunday 11.00 am
- How to watch: ThreeNow (Race only)
Shane van Gisbergen enters the third round of the Xfinity Series, sitting ninth in the standings, just four points behind veteran teammate AJ Allmendinger.
The Kiwi has quickly found his feet in the pack-racing competition style seen on ovals, but the Las Vegas Speedway tri-oval is likely to be another dramatic outing.
Brendon Hartley & Earl Bamber: World Endurance Championship Qatar 1812km
- Where? Lusail International Circuit, Qatar
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Saturday 2.00 am
- Race: Saturday 9.00 pm
- How to watch: Paid live stream (fiawec.tv)
A new-look World Endurance Championship begins with this weekend’s Qatar 1812km at Lusail International Circuit. Eighteen LMGT3 competitors join a record 19 Hypercars for the race, which is timed up to 10 hours.
Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn are competing in the 2024 WEC as a duo, but Sebastien Bourdais is joining them for the longer race. The trio shares Chip Ganassi’s #2 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R.
Defending champion Brendon Hartley rejoins the outfit he helped lift the trophy for in 2023, partnering Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa in the #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing GR010-Hybrid.
Formula 1: Bahrain Grand Prix
- Where? Bahrain International Circuit
- NZ Times:
- FP3: Saturday 1.15 am
- Qualifying: Saturday 4.10 am
- Race: Sunday 4.00 am
- How to watch? Sky Sport
Yes, we know there are no Kiwis in the field, but it’ll still be a great race to see how the 2024 season shapes up!
Red Bull looked to be a class ahead of the field in the first round of official pre-season testing in Bahrain but had competition from the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes over the next two days.
All will be revealed early on Sunday morning, with the race a day earlier than usual due to Ramadan starting on Sunday, March 10, this year, a day after next weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
