KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 10-13 JULY WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
It’s another packed weekend for Kiwi drivers and riders competing around the globe, with drivers in action across Supercars, the FIA World Endurance Championship, NASCAR, Moto3, GT World Challenge Asia, IMSA, AMA Pro Motocross and several Australian support categories.
The biggest focus is on Townsville, where the Supercars Championship heads north for the NTI Townsville 500. Matt Payne, Ryan Wood and Andre Heimgartner will all be looking to continue their strong seasons as the championship enters another crucial round.
Townsville also hosts several support categories featuring Kiwi talent. Hunter Robb returns for Round 4 of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia, Ayrton Hodson contests Round 3 of the Aussie Racing Cars Championship, while Ben Stewart continues his Toyota GR Cup Australia campaign in Round 2 of the season.
Across in Brazil, the FIA World Endurance Championship arrives at Interlagos for the 6 Hours of São Paulo. Earl Bamber, Brendon Hartley and Nick Cassidy will all be in action as they chase valuable championship points in one of the world’s premier endurance racing series.
North America provides another busy schedule for New Zealand competitors. Shane van Gisbergen returns to NASCAR Cup Series competition at EchoPark Speedway, while Madeline Stewart heads to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the latest round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
In Japan, Jaxon Evans and Brendon Leitch continue their GT World Challenge Asia campaigns with Rounds 5 and 6 at Fuji International Speedway, where another pair of races awaits the Kiwi duo.
On two wheels, Cormac Buchanan returns to Moto3 competition for the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, while Cole Davies continues his impressive AMA Pro Motocross season at the iconic Southwick National in Massachusetts.
From Townsville to São Paulo, Fuji to Canada, EchoPark Speedway to the Sachsenring and Southwick, Kiwi drivers and riders will once again be flying the New Zealand flag in 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. ⬇️
Matt Payne, Ryan Wood & Andre Heimgartner | Supercars
- Where? Reid Park Street Circuit, Townsville
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Friday 12:35 PM
- Qualifying (Race 20): Friday 2:45 PM
- Race 20: Friday 6:15 PM
- Qualifying (Race 21): Saturday 1:25 PM
- Top 10 Shootout: Saturday 2:10 PM
- Race 21: Saturday 5:05 PM
- Qualifying (Race 22): Sunday 1:25 PM
- Top 10 Shootout: Sunday 2:10 PM
- Race 22: Sunday 5:05 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
The Supercars Championship heads to North Queensland this weekend for the NTI Townsville 500, with Kiwi trio Matt Payne, Ryan Wood and Andre Heimgartner looking to carry momentum from a strong but challenging Darwin Triple Crown.
Matt Payne enjoyed a standout weekend at Hidden Valley, securing three podium finishes across the round, including a runner-up result in the final race. The Grove Racing driver’s consistency saw him close the gap to championship leader Broc Feeney to just 15 points, putting him firmly in the title fight.
Ryan Wood showed strong pace in Darwin, finishing eighth in the opening race before a power steering failure ended his Race 2 charge. He bounced back with a solid seventh-place finish in the finale and remains eighth in the championship standings.
Andre Heimgartner battled through a tougher weekend, with pit stop issues and qualifying struggles limiting his results, but the Brad Jones Racing driver continued to collect valuable points with a pair of 11th-place finishes.
As the championship heads to the challenging Townsville street circuit, all three Kiwis will aim to continue their push, with Payne chasing the championship lead and Wood and Heimgartner looking for strong results.
Hunter Robb | Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia
- Where? Reid Park Street Circuit, Townsville
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 11:55 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 5:05 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 10:40 AM
- Race 1: Saturday 3:15 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 11:40 AM
- Race 3: Sunday 3:55 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Hunter Robb heads into Round 4 of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia at the Reid Park Street Circuit in Townsville this weekend looking to extend his championship lead after a strong showing at Queensland Raceway.
The Kiwi delivered a consistent and competitive performance in Round 3, taking victory in Race 1 before backing it up with a second-place finish in Race 2. A sixth-place result in the final race was enough to secure valuable points and keep Robb at the top of the championship standings.
With 394 points heading into the Townsville round, Robb will aim to continue his strong form as the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia takes on a demanding street circuit. The Reid Park layout will provide a new test for competitors, with limited run-off areas and little margin for error.
With the championship lead in hand, Robb will be looking to convert his early-season consistency into another strong points haul as the battle for the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia title continues.
Ayrton Hodson | Aussie Racing Cars
- Where? Reid Park Street Circuit, Townsville
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Friday 10:15 AM
- Qualifying: Friday 1:35 PM
- Race 1: Friday 4:05 PM
- Race 2: Saturday 9:40 AM
- Race 3: Saturday 12:15 PM
- Race 4: Sunday 10:45 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Ayrton Hodson heads into Round 3 of the Aussie Racing Cars Championship at the Reid Park Street Circuit in Townsville this weekend looking to continue his impressive rookie campaign with Corish Motorsport.
Hodson enjoyed a standout Round 2, securing the Rookie Cup victory for the weekend while also finishing third overall in the round standings. The strong results highlighted the Kiwi’s pace and consistency as he continues to adapt to the highly competitive Aussie Racing Cars field.
Townsville will present a new challenge as the championship takes on the tight, technical Reid Park street circuit, where precision and consistency will be crucial on the concrete-lined layout.
Ben Stewart | Toyota GR Cup Australia
- Where? Reid Park Street Circuit, Townsville
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 11:15 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 2:05 PM
- Qualifying: Friday 4:35 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 11:25 AM
- Race 2: Saturday 3:55 PM
- Race 3: Sunday 3:00 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Ben Stewart heads into Round 2 of the Toyota GR Cup Australia at the Reid Park Street Circuit in Townsville this weekend looking to build on a strong opening round with 99 Motorsport.
The Kiwi made an impressive start to his 2026 Toyota GR Cup Australia campaign, showcasing strong race pace and race craft across the opening three races. After a challenging qualifying session left him 19th on the grid for Race 1, Stewart produced one of the drives of the weekend, charging through the field to finish 10th.
He backed that result up with two more consistent performances, securing seventh-place finishes in both Race 2 and Race 3, leaving the opening round with valuable championship points and plenty of momentum.
Townsville will provide a fresh challenge as the 99 Motorsport driver takes on the tight, technical Reid Park Street Circuit, where close racing and precision will be key on the concrete-lined layout.
After demonstrating his ability to fight through the field and run at the sharp end of the competitive GR Cup, Stewart will be aiming to continue his upward trajectory and challenge for stronger results in Round 2.
Brendon Hartley, Nick Cassidy & Earl Bamber | FIA World Endurance Championship
- Where? Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Brazil
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 2:00 AM
- Practice 2: Saturday 6:50 AM
- Practice 3: Sunday 1:10 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:25 AM
- Hyperpole: Sunday 6:45 AM
- Race: Monday 2:30 AM
- How to Watch? FIA WEC+
The FIA World Endurance Championship returns this weekend with the 6 Hours of São Paulo at Interlagos, with Kiwi drivers Brendon Hartley, Earl Bamber and Nick Cassidy back in action following a dramatic 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Hartley heads to Brazil after securing another Le Mans podium, helping Toyota finish third in the #8 GR010 Hybrid alongside Sébastien Buemi and Ryō Hirakawa. The Kiwi was part of a strong fight at the front of the field throughout the race, with Toyota eventually claiming victory and ending Ferrari’s recent run of success at La Sarthe.
Bamber endured a frustrating Le Mans after looking set for a potential victory. The #38 Cadillac V-Series, which he shared with Sébastien Bourdais and Jack Aitken, was one of the leading cars throughout the race and spent time at the front before a power steering issue forced the team to retire while fighting for the win.
Cassidy faced a tougher weekend with Peugeot, bringing the #93 Peugeot 9X8 home in 12th place after a challenging 24 hours. Despite lacking the pace to fight at the front, Cassidy and his teammates completed one of motorsport’s toughest endurance events.
Now the focus shifts to Interlagos for the 6 Hours of São Paulo, where Hartley, Bamber and Cassidy will all be looking to continue their championship campaigns and fight for strong results in the latest round of the WEC season.
Shane Van Gisbergen | NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? EchoPark Speedway, Georgia
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Sunday 8:30 AM
- Race: Monday 11:00 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Shane van Gisbergen returns to NASCAR Cup Series action this weekend at EchoPark Speedway, looking to bounce back after a difficult weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.
The Trackhouse Racing driver endured a challenging race at Chicagoland, finishing 25th after struggling to find the pace needed to move forward throughout the event. The result came after a run of strong performances from the Kiwi, who continues to make progress in his second full-time Cup Series season.
Van Gisbergen now turns his attention to EchoPark Speedway, where he will aim to put the previous round behind him and return to the form that has seen him challenge for a top-10 finish on multiple occasions this season.
With another opportunity to score valuable championship points, the Kiwi will be looking to maximise the weekend and continue his development in NASCAR’s premier category.
Madeline Stewart | IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
- Where? Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Canada
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 2:15 AM
- Practice 2: Saturday 8:45 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 12:00 AM
- Race: Sunday 5:25 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA YouTube Channel
Madeline Stewart continues her rookie IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge campaign this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with CSM for Round 6 of the championship, looking to build on the experience gained throughout her first season.
The Kiwi heads to Canada after a challenging 120 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International, where she and her team finished 23rd in a competitive field. Despite the result, Stewart continues to gain valuable experience in one of North America’s toughest endurance racing categories.
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park presents another opportunity for Stewart to continue developing as she adapts to the demands of IMSA competition, with the high-speed circuit set to provide another test for the rookie driver.
With more laps and experience under her belt, Stewart will be aiming to continue her progress and fight for a stronger result in Round 6 of the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
Jaxon Evans & Brendon Leitch | GT World Challenge Asia
- Where? Fuji International Speedway, Japan
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 2:10 PM
- Pre-Qualifying: Friday 6:45 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 11:30 AM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 11:52 AM
- Race 1: Saturday 3:35 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 2:35 PM
- How to Watch? GT World YouTube Channel
Kiwi drivers Brendon Leitch and Jaxon Evans return to GT World Challenge Asia action this weekend as the championship heads to Fuji International Speedway in Japan for Rounds 5 and 6.
The series resumes for the first time since May’s event at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Indonesia, where both drivers enjoyed strong results.
Evans and co-driver András Pátó claimed a Pro-Am class win in Race 1 before adding another podium in the class in Race 2. They head to Fuji fourth in the Pro-Am standings.
Leitch and teammate JJ Song also stood on the podium with a third-place finish in the Pro-Am in Race 1. They currently sit seventh in the championship.
Both Kiwi pairings will be looking to build on those results as the second half of the season gets underway with two one-hour races at Fuji this weekend.
Cormac Buchanan | Moto3
- Where? Sachsenring, Germany
- 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
Kiwi Moto3 rider Cormac Buchanan returns to action this weekend as the MotoGP World Championship heads to Germany’s Sachsenring for Round 11 of the season.
Buchanan will be looking to bounce back after a frustrating weekend at Assen, where promising pace went unrewarded. After showing top-10 speed in practice and looking set to progress to Q2 before a qualifying crash, the Southlander was forced to start deep in the field. His race then ended early after contact with another rider left him crashing out.
Despite the disappointment, Buchanan remains optimistic heading to Sachsenring, a circuit where he enjoyed some of his strongest Moto3 performances last season.
With the summer break approaching, the young Kiwi will aim to turn his recent pace into results and head into the break on a positive note.
Cole Davies | AMA Pro Motocross
- Where? Southwick, Massachusetts
- 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
- Consolation Race: Sunday 3:35 AM
- Moto 1: Sunday 5:15 AM
- Moto 2: Sunday 7:30 AM
- How to Watch? Super Motocross Video Pass
Kiwi rider Cole Davies is back in action this weekend as the AMA Pro Motocross Championship heads to Southwick for Round 6 of the season.
Davies heads into the weekend after his first overall win of the season at RedBud, where he won Moto 1 and finished second in Moto 2.
The strong result lifted the New Zealander to second in the championship standings on 190 points, leaving him just four points behind the series leader.
He will be looking to carry that momentum into Southwick as the fight for the championship continues.
Header Image: Walkinshaw TWG Racing
