KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 14-16 NOVEMBER WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
Another exciting weekend of international motorsport awaits New Zealand drivers, with the Asian Le Mans Series getting underway at Circuit Paul Ricard in France and the Porsche Junior Shootout taking place in Portugal.
Brendon Leitch and Hunter McElrea will fly the Kiwi flag at the Asian Le Mans Series season opener, looking to make a strong start to their respective campaigns.
Meanwhile, rising New Zealand talents Marco Giltrap and Clay Osborne will head to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão for the prestigious Porsche Junior Shootout, where they’ll be looking to impress on the international stage.
With four Kiwi drivers in action across two major European motorsport events, there’s plenty for New Zealand fans to keep an eye on this weekend.
Check out our detailed weekend preview below for everything you need to know, including session times, how to watch, and who’s competing where.
Brendon Leitch and Hunter McElrea | Asian Le Mans Series
- Where? Circuit Paul Ricard, France
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 10:10 PM
- Practice 2: Saturday 1:30 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 4:05 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 1:15 AM
- Race 2: Monday 1:15 AM
- How to Watch? Asian Le Mans Series YouTube Channel
Brendon Leitch and Hunter McElrea are flying the Kiwi flag at Circuit Paul Ricard in France this weekend as the Asian Le Mans Series gets underway.
It’s been a challenging start to the weekend for Leitch and his Leipert Motorsport team, who qualified 25th for Race 1 and 22nd for Race 2 in the 28-car GT3 field. The results leave Leitch and his teammates with plenty of work to do as they prepare to fight their way through the field in both races.
Meanwhile, Hunter McElrea and his United Autosports team enjoyed a stronger qualifying performance in the LMP2 category. The team finished 13th overall and 11th in LMP2 in the opening qualifying session, before improving to 12th overall and 10th in class for Race 2.
Both Kiwi drivers will look to make progress when racing gets underway, with two chances to secure valuable championship points at the season opener.
Emily Cotty | Asian Le Mans Cup
- Where? Circuit Paul Ricard, France
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 8:30 PM
- Practice 2: Friday 11:50 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 3:10 AM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 3:35 AM
- Race 1: Saturday 9:15 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 9:25 PM
- How to Watch? Asian Le Mans Series YouTube Channel
Young British-Kiwi racer Emily Cotty begins her 2026/27 Asian Le Mans Cup campaign at Circuit Paul Ricard in France this weekend, competing in the LMP3 class alongside Australian co-driver Callan Williams for Bretton Racing.
Cotty returns to the team following her endurance racing debut in the Michelin Le Mans Cup at Portimão earlier this month, where she secured a top-ten finish in the LMP3 category.
The pair have made a promising start to the weekend, finishing fourth and fifth fastest across the two practice sessions before qualifying fourth for Race 1 and sixth for Race 2.
With a solid start to their campaign, Cotty and Williams will be looking to build on their early pace and fight for a strong result in the opening round of the inaugural Asian Le Mans Cup season.
Bryn Jones | Peugeot Rally Cup Portugal
- Where? Fafe, Portugal
- NZ Times:
- SS1: Sunday 10:48 PM
- SS2: Sunday 11:26 PM
- SS3: Monday 12:37 AM
- SS4: Monday 1:15 AM
- SS5: Monday 2:51 AM
- SS6: Monday 3:24 AM
- SS7: Monday 4:45 AM
- SS8: Monday 5:17 AM
- How to Watch? No Coverage
- Live Timing: Click HERE
New Zealand rally driver Bryn Jones is back in action in Portugal this weekend, competing in Fafe Rally alongside co-driver Max Freeman as they prepare for the final round of the Peugeot Rally Cup Portugal.
The pair will tackle the November 14 event as part of the Portugal Rally Series, using the additional outing to gain valuable tarmac mileage ahead of the season finale at Rallye Vidreiro Centro de Portugal on November 20–21.
After their recent gravel outing at Rallye Casinos do Algarve, Jones and Freeman will look to get back up to speed on tarmac and build momentum heading into their final championship event of the year.
Jones currently sits sixth in the Peugeot Rally Cup Portugal standings in his first full season competing in the championship.
With just one championship round remaining, the Kiwi will be hoping for a strong performance at Fafe to set himself up for a positive end to his debut season in Portugal.
Marco Giltrap and Clay Osborne | Porsche Junior Shootout
- Where? Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal
- NZ Times:
- Unknown – exact timing of the two practice sessions, qualifying simulation and mock race has not been made public.
- Unknown – exact timing of the two practice sessions, qualifying simulation and mock race has not been made public.
- How to Watch? No Coverage.
Two of New Zealand’s rising motorsport talents, Marco Giltrap and Clay Osborne, are competing for a career-changing opportunity at the prestigious Porsche Junior Shootout, taking place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal.
The Kiwi duo are among 12 young drivers from ten countries competing for a place in Porsche’s 2027 Junior Programme, which offers financial backing for a season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and ongoing support from Porsche Motorsport.
Giltrap earned his nomination after claiming the 2026 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia title, while Osborne secured his place following an impressive campaign that saw him finish runner-up in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia.
The selection process includes simulator sessions, interviews, physical and mental assessments, and on-track evaluations in the latest-generation Porsche 911 Cup car.
Both Kiwis will be looking to impress Porsche’s selectors as they go up against some of the world’s most promising young sports car drivers, with a potential pathway to international professional racing on the line.
Header Photo: United Autosports
