Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

A massive weekend of motorsport is ahead, with Kiwi talent applying their trade in North America and Australia.

Shane van Gisbergen is running double duties in the NASCAR Cup and the Xfinity Series at Daytona International Speedway on the East Coast of the United States.

On the West Coast, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong compete in IndyCar and are joined in Portland by Callum Hedge in Indy NXT and Liam Sceats in USF Pro 2000.

In Australia, Brendon Leitch, Jaxon Evans and Tim Miles return to the GT World Challenge Australia at a special GT Festival at Phillip Island, while Ben Stewart wraps up his Toyota 86 Scholarship Series campaign at Sandown.

There’s plenty to follow over the coming days, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the action.

As always, viewing times and information can be found below.

Shane van Gisbergen: NASCAR Cup & Xfinity Series

• Where? Daytona International Speedway, Florida
• NZ Times:
  • Xfinity Series Qualifying: Saturday 7.00 am
  • Cup Series Qualifying: Saturday 9.05 am
  • Xfinity Series Race: Saturday 11.30 am
  • Cup Series Race: Sunday 11.30 am
• How to watch: Three Now (Races only)

It’s a double duty for Shane van Gisbergen, competing in the Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series at the world-famous Daytona International Speedway.

While van Gisbergen has had some misfortunes in his 2024 Cup Series outings, he sits 12th in the Xfinity Series standings, having already qualified for the playoffs through his three wins.

Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin & Marcus Armstrong: IndyCar

• Where? Portland International Raceway, Oregon
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Sunday 7.00 am
  • Final Warm-up: Sunday 12.15 pm
  • Race: Monday 7.00am
• How to watch: Sky Sport

Scott Dixon leads the New Zealand charge in the IndyCar Series, sitting third in the championship, 66 points behind his leading teammate Alex Palou.

Scott McLaughlin is a further eight points behind, in fifth overall, while Marcus Armstrong is 14th, only 22 points outside the top ten.

Jaxon Evans, Brendon Leitch & Tim Miles: GT World Challenge Australia

• Where? Phillip Island
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 2.05 pm
  • Race 1: Saturday 5.50 pm
  • Race 2: Sunday 2.50 pm
• How to watch: Free live stream (YouTube)

Brendon Leitch and Tim Miles join forces for the next round of the GT World Challenge Australia at the GT Festival at Phillip Island locked in a fierce championship battle. The Kiwi duo, sharing an Audi R8 GT3, are third in the standings, only three points behind leaders Chaz Mostert and Liam Talbot.

Jaxon Evans, who shares Arise Racing’s #8 Ferrari 296 GT3 with Elliott Schutte, is fifth in the driver’s championship, 20 points off Mostert and Talbot.

Callum Hedge: Indy NXT

• Where? Portland International Raceway, Oregon
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Sunday 11.20 am
  • Race: Monday 5.20 am
• How to watch: Paid live stream (IndyCar Live)

Callum Hedge is fourth in the Indy NXT Championship, 62 points outside the top three, and 209 points behind runaway leader Louis Foster, who has won six of the last eight races.

Liam Sceats: USF Pro 2000

• Where? Portland International Raceway, Oregon
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 7.55 am
  • Race 1: Saturday 12.25 pm
  • Race 2: Sunday 10.10 am
• How to watch: Free live stream (YouTube)

The USF Pro 2000 Championship wraps up this weekend with a double-header in Portland.

With five podiums, including a race win, to his name in 2024, Sceats sits fourth in the standings, 50 points outside the top three.

Ben Stewart: Australian Toyota 86 Scholarship Series

• Where? Sandown Raceway
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 2.50 pm
  • Race 1: Saturday 6.50 pm
  • Race 2: Sunday 11.10 am
  • Race 3: Sunday 3.30 pm
• How to watch: Free live stream (YouTube)

Ben Stewart enters the final round of the Toyota 86 Scholarship Series, sitting second in the standings ahead of three races at Phillip Island.

Header Image: Penske Entertainment: Paul Hurley