KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 19-22 JUNE WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
It’s another busy weekend for Kiwi competitors around the globe, with New Zealand drivers and riders set to race across NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula E, Supercars, Porsche Carrera Cup, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, USF Pro 2000, Moto3 and motocross.
Leading the charge is Shane van Gisbergen, who returns to NASCAR Cup Series action for Round 17 of the championship at the brand-new San Diego Street Circuit. The Kiwi star heads to California looking to continue his impressive 2026 campaign as NASCAR tackles one of the most anticipated new additions to the 2026 schedule.
Across the Pacific in Australia, Hidden Valley Raceway hosts the annual Darwin Triple Crown, with Andre Heimgartner, Ryan Wood, and Matt Payne contesting Round 6 of the Supercars Championship as the battle for championship points continues in the Northern Territory.
Also racing in Darwin are Tom Bewley and Clay Osborne, who return to action in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia for the second round of the season. After a lengthy break since the opening round, both Kiwis will be eager to restart their campaigns and challenge at the front of the competitive one-make championship.
Joining them at Hidden Valley is Ayrton Hodson, who takes on Round 2 of the Super2 Series as he continues his development on the Supercars ladder.
In Asia, Fuji International Speedway hosts Round 3 of Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia. Experienced Kiwi Chris van der Drift and rising star Liam Sceats will fly the New Zealand flag as they continue their campaigns in one of the region’s premier GT championships.
Formula E heads to China this weekend for the Sanya E-Prix, where Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans return to action for Round 11 of the all-electric world championship. With both drivers among the category’s proven race winners, the Kiwi duo will be aiming for strong results as the season enters its crucial stages.
In North America, the NTT IndyCar Series travels to the iconic Road America circuit for Round 10 of the championship. Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon, and Marcus Armstrong will all be in action on one of the most challenging permanent road courses on the calendar as the fight for championship positions intensifies.
Road America will also host Rounds 6 and 7 of the USF Pro 2000 Championship, where Kiwi youngsters Jacob Douglas and Sebastian Manson continue their seasons in one of the key development categories on the Road to Indy ladder.
On two wheels, Cormac Buchanan returns to Moto3 competition at the Grand Prix of Czechia. The talented New Zealander will be aiming to build momentum and confidence as the world championship reaches its ninth round of the season.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Cole Davies continues his impressive AMA Pro Motocross Championship campaign at High Point Raceway. The young Kiwi rider has enjoyed a strong start to the season and will be looking to add another standout performance in Round 4 of the championship.
From San Diego to Darwin, Sanya to Fuji, Road America to High Point Raceway, New Zealand drivers and riders will once again be representing the silver fern across another action-packed 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. ⬇️
Shane Van Gisbergen | NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? San Diego Street Circuit, U.S
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Saturday 9:00 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:30 AM
- Race: Monday 8:00 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Shane van Gisbergen will be among the favourites when the NASCAR Cup Series visits the inaugural San Diego Street Circuit this weekend.
The Kiwi is looking to rebound from a frustrating race at Pocono Raceway, where he was caught in a multi-car accident and finished 31st after running near the top 20.
San Diego’s street circuit is expected to suit van Gisbergen’s strengths. The Trackhouse Racing driver won NASCAR’s first Chicago Street Race in 2023 and claimed a dominant road-course victory in Mexico City earlier this season.
With his playoff margin reduced following Pocono, a strong result this weekend would provide a timely boost as NASCAR heads into a crucial stretch of the season.
Andre Heimgartner, Ryan Wood, and Matt Payne | Supercars
- Where? Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 12:35 PM
- Qualifying (Race 17): Friday 3:35 PM
- Race 17: Friday 7:30 PM
- Qualifying (Race 18): Saturday 1:15 PM
- Top 10 Shootout: Saturday 2:00 PM
- Race 18: Saturday 5:50 PM
- Qualifying (Race 19): Sunday 1:15 PM
- Top 10 Shootout: Sunday 2:00 PM
- Race 19: Sunday 5:10 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
New Zealand’s Supercars contingent heads to Hidden Valley Raceway this weekend for the Darwin Triple Crown, looking to build on a mixed but encouraging weekend in Tasmania.
Andre Heimgartner arrives in Darwin with momentum after claiming a race victory at Symmons Plains and recording another top-five finish across the three-race weekend. The Brad Jones Racing driver was the standout Kiwi in Tasmania and will be hoping to continue that form as the championship reaches Round 6.
Matt Payne also enjoyed a strong weekend, securing a front-row start alongside Heimgartner before claiming a podium in Race 15 and backing it up with a runner-up finish in the final race. The Grove Racing driver remains firmly in championship contention and will be targeting more silverware in the Northern Territory.
For Ryan Wood, the Tasmania round showed plenty of speed but not the results to match. The Walkinshaw TWG Racing driver qualified strongly throughout the weekend and was running inside the top 10 in all three races, only for pit stop issues and strategy setbacks to limit his final results.
With Hidden Valley’s fast and flowing layout providing a very different challenge to Symmons Plains, all three Kiwis will be aiming to carry their promising pace into another important weekend as the 2026 Supercars Championship season continues.
Tom Bewley & Clay Osborne | Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
- Where? Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 11:55 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 5:40 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 11:10 AM
- Race 1: Saturday 3:25 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 2:45 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
After more than three months between rounds, Clay Osborne and Tom Bewley return to Porsche Carrera Cup Australia action this weekend at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin.
Osborne heads into Round 2 carrying strong momentum after an impressive season-opening weekend at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The Kiwi claimed pole position and converted it into his maiden Carrera Cup victory in Race 1, announcing himself as an early championship contender.
Bewley’s opening round was more challenging, but the Team Porsche New Zealand driver showed encouraging speed throughout the weekend. After a difficult qualifying session and a penalty in Race 1, the rookie fought his way from 19th to 10th in Race 2 before a mechanical issue prevented him from starting the final race.
Despite the setbacks, Bewley demonstrated strong race pace in his first competitive outing in the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car and will be looking to turn that speed into results when the championship resumes.
With the long break finally over, both Kiwis will be aiming to build on their Melbourne performances as the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia season continues in the Northern Territory.
Ayrton Hodson | Super2 Series
- Where? Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 2:40 PM
- Practice 2: Friday 6:20 PM
- Qualifying (Race 3): Saturday 12:35 PM
- Race 3: Saturday 4:25 PM
- Qualifying (Race 4) Sunday 12:35 PM
- Race 4: Sunday 3:45 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Ayrton Hodson returns to Super2 Series action this weekend at Hidden Valley Raceway, with Round 2 marking the end of a four-month break since the season opener at Sydney Motorsport Park.
The Matt Stone Racing driver endured a frustrating start to his debut Super2 campaign in February, with a series of mechanical issues and setbacks preventing him from showing his full potential. Problems including a cool suit failure, suspension issues and race contact impacted both races, leaving Hodson with finishes of 13th and 17th.
Despite the disappointing results, the New Zealander showed flashes of speed throughout the weekend and will be hoping for a cleaner run when the championship resumes in Darwin.
With valuable experience now under his belt and a lengthy break to prepare, Hodson will be aiming to put together a strong weekend and move forward in the highly competitive Super2 field as the season gets back underway at Hidden Valley.
Chris Van Der Drift & Liam Sceats | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia
- Where? Fuji International Speedway, Japan
- NZ Times:
- Race 1: Saturday 4:15 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 4:45 PM
- How to Watch? Lamborghini Squadra Corse YouTube Channel
Liam Sceats and Chris van der Drift return to Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia action this weekend at Fuji International Speedway in Japan for Round 3 of the championship.
The Kiwi pair arrive with plenty of momentum following a successful outing at Ningbo International Circuit in China, where both drivers stood on the podium and celebrated class success for Team VSR.
Sceats and co-driver Gustaw Wisniewski continued their strong Pro class campaign by finishing second overall in Race 1 before adding another podium with third overall and second in class in Race 2.
Meanwhile, van der Drift and teammate Todd Kingsford enjoyed an outstanding weekend in the Pro-Am category. The experienced Kiwi helped secure class victories in both races, including a second-place overall finish in Race 2 after starting from pole position.
With both Team VSR entries showing front-running pace in China, Sceats and van der Drift will be aiming to continue their strong form this weekend as the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia championship heads to one of Japan’s most iconic circuits.
Mitch Evans & Nick Cassidy | Formula E
- Where? Sanya Street Circuit, China
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 8:30 PM
- Free Practice 2: Saturday 12:30 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 2:40 PM
- Race: Saturday 7:05 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy return to championship action this weekend as the series heads to China for the Sanya E-Prix and Round 11 of the season.
The pair have not raced since the Monaco double-header in May, where Evans enjoyed a strong weekend that included a podium finish and a fourth-place result. The Jaguar driver finished second in Round 9 before narrowly missing another podium in Round 10, continuing his push near the top of the championship standings.
Cassidy endured a more difficult weekend in the Principality but still showed strong fighting spirit. The former championship contender recovered from a tough qualifying session to finish ninth in Round 9, although Round 10 proved more challenging as he finished outside the points.
With the championship entering its final stages, both Kiwis will be aiming for strong results in China. Evans will be looking to continue his recent run of front-running pace, while Cassidy will be hoping to bounce back and return to the points.
Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon & Marcus Armstrong | NTT IndyCar Series
- Where? Road America, Wisconsin
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 8:00 AM
- Practice 2: Sunday 3:00 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:00 AM
- Race: Monday 6:00 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
New Zealand’s IndyCar stars return to action this weekend as the series heads to Road America for Round 10 of the championship.
Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon and Marcus Armstrong will all be looking to build on solid performances at the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 two weeks ago, where all three Kiwis finished inside the top 12.
McLaughlin led the Kiwi charge at the St. Louis oval, bringing his Team Penske entry home in fifth place after another strong showing. Armstrong continued his consistent form with an impressive ninth-place finish, while six-time IndyCar champion Dixon battled through to claim 12th for Chip Ganassi Racing.
The move to Road America presents a very different challenge from the high-speed oval of Gateway, with the iconic Wisconsin road course renowned for its long straights, heavy braking zones and overtaking opportunities.
McLaughlin has traditionally been strong on road courses and will be aiming to challenge at the front, while Dixon’s experience and racecraft make him a perennial contender. Armstrong will also be looking to continue his recent momentum as he seeks another strong result in the highly competitive championship.
With the season approaching its midway point, valuable championship points will once again be on the line as the Kiwi trio takes on one of IndyCar’s most popular venues.
Sebastian Manson & Jacob Douglas | USF Pro 2000
- Where? Road America, Wisconsin
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Saturday 2:25 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 4:35 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 7:50 AM
- Race 2: Monday 1:55 AM
- How to Watch? USF Pro Championships YouTube
Jacob Douglas and Sebastian Manson return to USF Pro 2000 action this weekend at Road America for Rounds 6 and 7 of the championship.
The pair head to Wisconsin following an eventful weekend at the Indianapolis Road Course, where Douglas claimed his first victory of the season in challenging mixed conditions. The Pabst Racing driver mastered changing weather and strategy calls to secure a memorable Race 1 win before adding another points finish in Race 2.
Manson endured mixed fortunes in Indianapolis. The Kiwi was forced to retire from the opening race after an early incident but bounced back strongly in Race 2, charging through the field to secure an impressive fourth-place finish.
Douglas currently sits sixth in the championship standings and will be aiming to continue his momentum at one of North America’s most iconic road courses. Manson will also be looking to build on his Race 2 pace as he targets another strong result this weekend.
With two races scheduled across the weekend, both young New Zealanders will have plenty of opportunities to add valuable championship points as the USF Pro 2000 season continues.
Cormac Buchanan | Moto3
- Where? Automotodrom Brno, Czechia
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 7:00 PM
- Practice: Friday 11:15 PM
- Free Practice 2: Saturday 6:40 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 10:45 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 11:10 PM
- Race: Sunday 9:00 PM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Cormac Buchanan heads to Brno this weekend for the Grand Prix of Czechia, looking to continue the momentum from his strongest weekend of the season in Hungary.
The Southland teenager secured his first Moto3 World Championship points of the season at the Balaton Park Circuit after an impressive performance that saw him finish 14th. Buchanan showed strong pace throughout the weekend, recording his best qualifying result of the season before fighting inside the top-10 group during the closing stages of the race.
Despite being hampered by tyre choice in the opening laps, the CODE Motorsports rider produced some of his fastest laps late in the race and was closing rapidly on the riders ahead before a red flag brought proceedings to an early end.
The result marked an important breakthrough after a challenging start to the season and has provided confidence heading into Round 9 of the championship.
Brno also holds unfinished business for Buchanan after an injury cut short his previous visit to the Czech circuit. With championship points now on the board and his pace continuing to improve, the young Kiwi will be aiming to challenge further up the order as the Moto3 season resumes this weekend.
Cole Davies | AMA Pro Motocross
- Where? High Point Raceway, Pennsylvania
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying 1 Group B: Sunday 12:00 AM
- Qualifying 1 Group A: Sunday 12:20 AM
- Qualifying 2 Group B: Sunday 1:50 AM
- Qualifying 2 Group A: Sunday 2:10 AM
- 250 Consolation Race: Sunday 3:50 AM
- Moto 1: Sunday 5:15 AM
- Moto 2: Sunday 7:45 AM
- How to Watch? Super Motocross Video Pass
Cole Davies heads to High Point Raceway in Pennsylvania this weekend for Round 4 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
The Yamaha rider sits sixth in the 250 Class standings on 93 points after a challenging but productive outing at Thunder Valley Raceway in Colorado. Davies showed strong speed in the opening moto to finish sixth before a more difficult second race saw him cross the line in 15th.
Despite the mixed results, the young New Zealander remains well placed inside the championship top 10 as he continues his 2026 AMA Pro Motocross campaign against some of the best riders in the world.
High Point Raceway presents another opportunity for Davies to add valuable points and continue his development in the highly competitive 250 Class. With three rounds now completed, the Kiwi will be aiming to return to the front of the field and strengthen his position in the championship standings.
As the season begins to gather momentum, Davies remains one of New Zealand’s brightest international motocross prospects and will be looking to make his mark once again this weekend.
Header Image: Supercars
