Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

Strap in and clear your calendar—this weekend is one of the biggest on the motorsport calendar, and it’s full throttle from start to finish.

From Monaco to Indianapolis, Charlotte to the Aussie outback, Kiwi motorsport stars are taking on the world. Leading the charge is the iconic Indy 500, but New Zealand talent is making waves across every discipline. Here’s where our heroes are in action this weekend.

The jewel in the Formula 1 crown returns, and so does Liam Lawson. Back behind the wheel for his first Monaco Grand Prix start in F1, Lawson is embracing the unforgiving streets of Monte Carlo. This circuit rewards precision and punishes the slightest mistake.

Rising star Louis Sharp tackles the tight twist of Monaco for the first time in his Formula 3 campaign. The streets of the principality are notoriously tough for overtaking, so qualifying will be critical. Sharp’s raw speed and composure under pressure could see him deliver something special on debut in one of the world’s most iconic street racing circuits.

Over in the UK, Cormac Buchanan returns to familiar ground at Silverstone, one of Moto3’s fastest and most flowing circuits. The Invercargill teen continues to turn heads with his fearless riding and growing consistency in a fiercely competitive field. A strong result could mark a real breakthrough in his rookie Grand Prix campaign.

Shane Van Gisbergen continues his NASCAR Cup Series rookie season at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. This weekend marks the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 — the longest race on the Cup calendar. The endurance, strategy, and adaptability of the Kiwi triple Supercars champion will be put to the test over 600 miles. After securing his first pole position for the All-Star Open race last weekend, SVG will be one to watch this weekend.

The Kiwi trio is set for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Scott Dixon returns as a perennial contender, chasing a second Indy 500 win with his trademark strategy and speed. Scott McLaughlin faces an uphill battle after a heavy crash earlier in the week, now racing in teammate Josef Newgarden’s back-up car. Marcus Armstrong showed strong pace in practice but will also need to fight from the back after his own crash. All three are determined to make Kiwi fans proud on race day.

Young guns Jacob Douglas and Sebastian Manson are back in action at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Competing in the USF Pro 2000 series and fresh off his first race win in the series, Douglas continues his American open-wheel climb, chasing race wins and podiums in a field brimming with hungry talent. Manson is looking to continue his momentum on the Indianapolis Oval track after a great weekend which included two Top 10 finishes.

A strong Kiwi crew is lining up for the Forest Rally in Western Australia. Hayden Paddon and John Kennard are favourites in their Hyundai i20N Rally2, while Bella Haggarty and Australian co-driver Stewart Reid continue their strong form in the Mirage AP4. Graeme Ferguson and Ross Moody make their debut in a classic 1972 Ford Capri, bringing true grassroots passion to the event.

Check out our detailed weekend preview below for everything you need to know, including session times, how to watch, and who’s racing where.

Liam Lawson: Formula 1 World Championship

• Where? Monaco Street Circuit
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 11:30 PM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 3:00 AM
  • Practice 3: Saturday 11:30 PM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 2:00 AM
  • Grand Prix: Monday 1:00 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports / F1 TV

Formula 1 returned to Imola last weekend where Kiwi driver Liam Lawson endured a challenging weekend at the iconic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

Starting from 15th on the grid, Lawson held his ground through the opening stages while chaos unfolded around the midfield. Despite his efforts and a committed drive, the strategy didn’t play in his favour—especially after the Virtual Safety Car and full Safety Car periods disrupted any momentum he was building.

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Recap HERE

In the end, Lawson crossed the line in P14, just outside the points, in what he described as a “frustrating” race where “not many things went our way.” He’ll be looking to bounce back strong this weekend as Formula 1 heads to the glitz, glamour, and unforgiving walls of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Louis Sharp: Formula 3 World Championship

• Where? Monaco Street Circuit
• NZ Times:
  • Practice: Thursday 11:10 PM
  • Qualifying Group A: Friday 9:05 PM
  • Qualifying Group B: Friday 9.29 PM
  • Sprint Race: Saturday 8:45 PM
  • Feature Race: Sunday 6:00 PM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports / F1 TV

Kiwi rising star Louis Sharp arrives in Monaco this week for Round 4 of the FIA Formula 3 Chamionship. It was a weekend of highs and heartbreak for Sharp at Imola last weekend. After a strong qualifying and P4 finish in the Sprint Race in which he secured his first points of the season, he started fifth on the grid for Sunday’s Feature Race.

Sharp showed early pace, including setting the fastest lap, but faded late in the race with tyre degradation and dropped to P12, just outside the points.

“Not the ending we were chasing—climbed to P4 early in the Feature Race, but heavy tyre degradation knocked us out of the fight. Plenty of positives to carry forward from Imola. Time to regroup, reset, and come back stronger.” said Sharp

Imola Sprint Race Recap HERE
Imola Feature Race Recap HERE

Despite the frustration, the Rodin Motorsport driver continues to show promising speed and has his focus on bouncing back this weekend as the series heads to Monaco.

Cormac Buchanan: Moto3 World Championship

• Where? Silverstone, England
• NZ Times:
  • Free Practice 1: Friday 9:00 PM
  • Practice: Saturday 1:15 AM
  • Free Practice 2: 8:40 PM
  • Qualifying 1: Sunday 12:50 AM
  • Qualifying 2: Sunday 1:15 AM
  • Race: Monday 1:30 AM
    
• How to Watch? Three Now

Kiwi Moto3 rider Cormac Buchanan heads to Silverstone this weekend for Round 7 of the 2025 Moto3 Championship. Buchanan battled back into the points in Le Mans, finishing 14th in a drama-filled French Grand Prix for Round 6 of the 2025 season.

After starting 19th, Buchanan made a lightning start, gaining five spots on the opening lap, and showed smart racecraft in tricky, drying conditions. Despite tyre wear and late pressure, he held on to secure two valuable points for DENSSI Racing/BOE Motorsport.

“My main goal was to finish without any dramas, with difficult track conditions on track it made it a bit sketchier than anticipated. We had another great start and jumped up 6 places on the first laps. A few hairy moments on the track made me lose touch a bit with the group battling for the top 5, and I was almost yo-yoing back and forth to them,” said Buchanan

“There are still some fine details to improve, but we are doing a great job at ticking the boxes we set ourselves and focusing on the job and process.”

Moto3 Round 6 Le Mans Recap HERE

With consistent showings of pace, skill and determination, he heads into this weekend looking to build on that progress even further .

Shane Van Gisbergen: NASCAR Cup Series

• Where? Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina
• NZ Times:
  • Practice: Sunday 5:30 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 6:40 AM
  • Race: Monday 10:00 AM
    
• How to Watch? Three Now

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend for Round 13 of the 2025 championship, with Kiwi rookie Shane van Gisbergen looking to bounce back after a dramatic All-Star weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Van Gisbergen turned heads by storming to his first-ever Cup Series pole position on an oval during All-Star Open qualifying, delivering a faultless lap and his Trackhouse Racing crew showcasing impressive pit lane precision. He dominated early in the 100-lap race, leading the opening 52 laps, but a strategy call to take four fresh tyres during the mid-race caution—while others opted for two—cost him valuable track position.

Caught in heavy traffic and battling fading grip, SVG slipped back to 14th by the chequered flag, missing out on a transfer spot to the All-Star Race. Despite the setback, it was a weekend full of promise for the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing driver as he continues to build confidence and speed in his debut Cup season.

All-Star Open Qualifying Recap HERE
All-Star Open Race Recap HERE

Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon, Marcus Armstrong: IndyCar Series

• Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Oval)
• NZ Times:
  • Practice: Saturday 3:00 AM
  • Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge: Saturday 6:30 AM
  • Indy 500 Race: Monday 4:45 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports

The greatest spectacle in racing returns this weekend with the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500, and the Kiwi trio of Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin, and Marcus Armstrong will all take their places on the grid after a high-stakes qualifying weekend at the Brickyard.

Dixon led the New Zealand charge, delivering a typically composed performance in the Fast Six to secure P4 on the grid—a strong platform for a second Indy 500 victory.

McLaughlin, after a heavy crash in the practice session prior to Top 12 Qualifying, was sidelined from the shootout but still starts a solid 10th following post-qualifying penalties for his two Penske teammates.

Meanwhile, Armstrong showed nerves of steel in Last Chance Qualifying, putting together a clutch run to grab 32nd on the grid and keep his Indy debut alive after a scary crash in an earlier practice session.

Practice 1 Recap HERE
Practice 5 (Fast Friday) Recap HERE
Indy 500 Day 1 Qualifying Recap HERE
Indy 500 Top 12 & Last Chance Qualifying Recap HERE

With all three Kiwis in the show—one on the second row, one in the mix, and one with everything to gain—the stage is set for a dramatic and unforgettable Indy 500.

Jacob Douglas & Sebastian Manson: USF Pro 2000

• Where? Indianapolis Raceway Park (Oval)
• NZ Times:
  • Test Session 1: Friday 4:00 AM
  • Test Session 2: Friday 7:00 AM
  • Qualifying: Friday 9:30 AM
  • Race: Saturday 1:30 PM
    
• How to Watch? Youtube

The USF Pro 2000 Championship returns this weekend for Round 9, shifting to Indianapolis Raceway Park after a chaotic triple-header on the Indianpolis Motor Speedway road course on May 8-10 that saw Kiwi drivers Jacob Douglas and Sebastian Manson experience both highs and heartbreak.

Douglas delivered a standout performance in Race 2, claiming his first win in the series after capitalizing on late-race drama to take the checkered flag. It was a well-earned reward after a frustrating Race 1, where Douglas had briefly led before a mechanical issue ended his chances of victory. Unfortunately, his weekend ended in disappointment, caught in a multi-car crash at the start of Race 3. The Kiwi sits fifth in the standings and continues to show front-running pace.

Manson showed promising speed, especially in Race 1 where he finished eighth, his best result of the weekend. He was caught in contact during Race 2 on the opening lap which ended his race early and finished 9th in the third and final race. Manson sits 14th in the standings and heads to the oval aiming for a cleaner run and a top 5 finish or even better, a podium.

Round 6 Recap HERE
Round 7 and 8 Recap HERE

Hayden Paddon, John Kennard, Bella Haggarty, Graeme Ferguson and Ross Moody: ARC Australian Rally Championship

• Where? Busselton and Nannup, Western Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Hit Southwest Rally Show: Friday 8:30 PM
  • Ceremonial Start: Friday 10:00 PM
  • SS1: Saturday 12:56 PM
  • SS2: Saturday 2:39 PM
  • SS3: Saturday 3:15 PM
  • SS4: Saturday 5:49 PM
  • SS5: Saturday 7:32 PM
  • SS6: Saturday 8:08PM
  • SS7: Sunday 1:22 PM
  • SS8: Sunday 2:00 PM
  • SS9: Sunday 2:41 PM
  • SS10: Sunday 4:55 PM
  • SS11: Sunday 5:33 PM
  • SS12: Sunday 6:44 PM
    
• How to Watch? Youtube

The 2025 ARC Australian Rally Championship heads west this weekend for Round 2, the Forest Rally in Busselton and Nannup, with a strong Kiwi presence taking on WA’s famously loose and slippery stages.

Hayden Paddon and John Kennard showed their pace early in the season opener, leading after Day 1 in Canberra before a run in with some local wildlife forced their retirement. Now, they’re aiming to bounce back in Western Australia, where Paddon will start fourth on the road in his Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

Round 1 Recap HERE

“This is our first time competing in Western Australia,” said Paddon. “We’ve heard a lot about the loose marbles here that make it slippery, but from what we’ve seen from our homework, the stages look generally smooth and flowing. We’ve been working on a couple of small upgrades on the car, so we are looking forward to trying to get our championship bid back on track. That means we really need to target maximum points here.”

The weekend’s action features 12 special stages across two days, including Saturday’s 103.28 km across the Nannup forest and Sunday’s 81.02 km sprint before the rally finishes in Nannup town.

Bella Haggarty and co-driver Stewart Reid are also back after a tough opener. A strong SS1 performance (8th quickest) showed glimpses of speed, though they’ll be aiming for more consistency after a frustrating start to their 2025 campaign, finishing 18th overall in Canberra.

Graeme Ferguson and Ross Moody, meanwhile, are making their international debut in the ARC Classic 2WD Cup. Driving a 1972 Ford Capri, the Kiwi veterans bring a winning partnership from New Zealand’s rally scene to one of Australia’s most iconic gravel events.

Schedule and Maps HERE
Timing/Results HERE

Header Image: Penske Entertainment – Joe Skibinski