While it’s slightly quieter for the Kiwis on the international stage compared to last weekend, there’s still plenty of action to keep an eye on!
Liam Lawson is back behind the wheel in Formula 1, continuing his run with Racing Bulls at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber return to World Endurance Championship action at Imola, both chasing strong results after a dramatic season-opener in Qatar.
Ayrton Hodson will also make his debut in the TA2 Muscle Car Series at Bathurst, competing on the support card to the Bathurst 6 Hour — which, for the first time in recent years, features no New Zealanders on the grid for the main event.
Brock Gilchrist was also set to be in action this weekend, preparing for Round 2 of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in Japan. However, the talented young Kiwi has been forced to withdraw after undergoing surgery for appendicitis earlier this week. He’s now recovering well and hopes to be back on track soon.
Here’s a rundown of where you can catch all the Kiwi motorsport action over the next few days.
Liam Lawson: Formula 1 World Championship
- Where? Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia.
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 1:30 AM
- Practice 2: Saturday 5:00 AM
- Practice 3: Sunday 1:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 5:00 AM
- Grand Prix: Monday 5:00 AM
- How to Watch: Sky Sports / F1 TV
Liam Lawson is back racing in Formula 1 this weekend, lining up for the final part of the 2025 season’s first triple-header at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Lawson has had a promising yet challenging return to Racing Bulls over the last two Grands Prix, showing flashes of strong pace despite some tough results. In Japan, he impressed early by finishing fifth in Free Practice 2 and advancing to Q2 in qualifying, before a strategy misstep left him down the order on race day. He looked competitive again in Bahrain, fighting hard through the field, but a series of post-race penalties ultimately cost him a stronger final result.
The Kiwi now heads to Saudi Arabia looking to build some momentum, returning to a circuit where he claimed an impressive Formula 2 victory in 2022. He’ll be aiming to get on the board with his first points of the 2025 campaign.
Free Practice 1 gets underway early Saturday morning (NZT), with full coverage available on Sky Sport and F1TV
Brendon Hartley & Earl Bamber: FIA World Endurance Championship
- Where? Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola.
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 9:00 PM
- Practice 2: Saturday 1:50 AM
- Practice 3: Saturday 8:40 PM
- Qualifying: Sunday 12:30 AM
- Grand Prix: Sunday 11:00 PM
- How to Watch: WEC TV
New Zealand’s top endurance racers, Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber, are back on the world stage this weekend for Round 2 of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship at Imola, Italy.
Hartley, alongside Sébastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa in the #8 Toyota GR010 Hybrid, is aiming to improve upon their fifth-place finish at the season opener in Qatar. Despite starting 17th, the trio showcased resilience to climb the ranks, demonstrating the team’s determination to contend for the championship.
Bamber, piloting the #38 Cadillac V-Series.R with Sébastien Bourdais and Jenson Button, faced challenges in Qatar. An early race incident, where the #38 collided with its sister car while leading, coupled with subsequent throttle issues, resulted in a 16th-place finish. The team is now focused on a strong comeback at Imola.
Qualifying is scheduled for early Sunday morning NZT, with the 6 Hours of Imola race following later that evening. Fans can stream all sessions live via WEC TV.
Ayrton Hobson: TA2 Muscle Car Series
- Where? Mount Panorama, Bathurst.
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Friday 2:15 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 12:20 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 12:40 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 4:05 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 11:55 AM
- How to Watch: Bathurst 6 Hour Website
While no Kiwis are contesting this year’s Bathurst 6 Hour endurance race, Ayrton Hodson will still be representing New Zealand at Mount Panorama this weekend.
The 20-year-old Super2 rookie is making his debut in the TA2 Muscle Car Series, one of the major support categories, driving a Ford Mustang previously raced by TA2 category manager Matt MacKelden.
Hodson impressed in a TA2 guest outing at Taupō last weekend and sees Bathurst as a key learning opportunity ahead of his return for Super2 later this year.
“Taupō is one thing, Bathurst is another,” he said. “My goal is simply to go there and learn, be as competitive as possible and enjoy the experience.”
The TA2 field features a strong 41-car entry, with several familiar names from Super2 also lining up.
Coverage is free and live via the Bathurst 6 Hour website, with Qualifying and both races to be streamed.
Header Image: Brendon Hartley Facebook
