It’s a race weekend!
Shane van Gisbergen begins his full-time NASCAR Cup Series campaign at Bowman Gray for a non-points scoring event.
Closer to home, Brendon Leitch and Jaxon Evans take on Mount Panorama at the Bathurst 12-Hour, a race that also features several Supercars stars, some of the world’s best GT drivers, and former Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi.
If that’s not enough, we also have two world-class events on our shores.
The SKOPE Classic at Ruapuna is sure to draw a massive crowd for historic racing, which can be streamed live on YouTube.
The NextGen New Zealand Championship features at Teretonga, with Round 4 of CTFROC joined by the Bridgestone GR86 Championship, the GT New Zealand Championship, the Mazda Racing Series, and the Porsche race series.
Plenty to see and follow this weekend, so sit back, relax, and enjoy!
NASCAR and Bathurst 12-Hour details can be found below.
Shane van Gisbergen: NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray
- Where?
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Sunday 12.10 pm
- Heat Races: Sunday 2.30 pm
- Last Chance Qualifier: Monday 12.00 pm
- Race: Monday 2.00 pm
- How to watch: Three Now (Race only)
Shane van Gisbergen begins his full-time NASCAR Cup Series campaign with the Clash at Bowman Gray, a non-points round on the quarter-mile oval that welcomes the Cup Series for their first competitive visit since 1971.
The field is divided into three practice groups, each participating in three sessions. The times from the third session determine the grids and lineups for four heat races.
Each heat is 25 laps of green flag running, with the top five advancing to The Clash.
The Last Chance Qualifier is for those who don’t progress from the heats, the top two making the main event. The 23rd and final starting spot for The Clash is reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2024 season driver points standings who did not already transfer.
The Clash is a 200-lap outing, with a mid-race break and only green flag laps counting.
Brendon Leitch & Jaxon Evans: Bathurst 12-Hour
- Where? Mount Panorama, Bathurst
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Saturday 3.00 pm
- Pole Battle: Saturday 6.00 pm
- Race: Sunday 7.30 am
- How to watch: Sky Sport 5 (055)
The 2025 Bathurst 12-Hour field features two Kiwis, including Jaxon Evans and Brendon Leitch.
Evans rejoins Arise Racing GT to share a Ferrari 296 alongside Brad Schumacher, Alessio Rovera, and Elliot Schutte.
Leitch takes on the race with Wall Racing, driving a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 with Tony D’Alberto, Adrian Deitz, and Grant Denyer.
