Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

The motorsport madness rolls on this weekend, with 20 Kiwis flying the flag across 10 categories—racing across the ditch and around the globe. Wherever engines are roaring, Kiwis are in the mix. Stay tuned and buckle up—it’s going to be another epic weekend.

From the sweeping corners of Barcelona to the gritty streets of Detroit, the high banks of Nashville to the fast straights of Queensland, Kiwi talent is lighting up tracks worldwide. After a weekend of highs and heartbreaks, they’re back and aiming higher than ever. Here’s where our stars are in action.

Liam Lawson is back in the heat of battle for Racing Bulls as the Formula 1 grid rolls into Barcelona. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya presents a technical challenge of balance, tyre management, and precision driving, and Lawson is set to be razor-sharp as he hunts for more points in Round 9 of the championship

Louis Sharp continues his Formula 3 campaign with Rodin Motorsport as he joins the action in Spain. Returning to a more traditional circuit after the chaos of Monaco’s street fight, Sharp’s adaptability and raw speed make him one to watch as he aims to climb the F3 standings.

Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy are charging into a crucial double-header at the Shanghai E-Prix as the Formula E title fight heats up. Representing Jaguar TCS Racing, both Kiwis have shown they can thrive under pressure, and the fast, flowing layout of the Shanghai International Circuit will play a key role in shaping the championship battle.

Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon, and Marcus Armstrong are set to tackle the streets of Detroit as the NTT IndyCar Series heads to its tough downtown circuit. It’s a triple threat of Kiwi talent, with Dixon’s trademark consistency, McLaughlin’s raw speed, and Armstrong’s rising confidence all poised to shine in this unforgiving concrete jungle.

Liam Sceats and Callum Hedge are back in action on the challenging streets of Detroit for Indy NXT. Sceats continues to turn heads in his rookie season in the U.S., while Hedge is gaining momentum and pushing hard for a breakthrough result in a fiercely competitive field.

Earl Bamber joins the fray in Detroit as well, piloting his Cadillac Whelen prototype in IMSA’s 100-minute sprint through the same street circuit. Expect fireworks, traffic management, and pure hustle from the endurance ace.

Shane van Gisbergen returns to the NASCAR Cup Series at Nashville Superspeedway in the U.S. After the drama of the Coca-Cola 600, SVG will look to bring his road-racing finesse to the 1.33-mile tri-oval in Tennessee. With 300 laps and 400 miles ahead, it’s another major test in his Cup rookie season with Trackhouse Racing.

Jaxon Evans, Tim Miles, and Brendon Leitch headline a strong Kiwi presence at Queensland Raceway for a big weekend of GT action. Evans teams up with Aussie co-driver Elliot Schutte in the GT World Challenge Australia double-header, while Miles and Leitch bring more firepower to the grid. With two one-hour races ahead, expect tight battles, smart strategy, and serious Kiwi pace.

Tony Quinn and Chris White Jr fly the flag in GT4 Australia, also tackling a double-header at Queensland Raceway. Their experience and consistency make them serious contenders across both races.

Tom Bewley, William Exton, Hunter Robb, and Jackson Rooney are set to take on Round 3 of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia. The quartet of hungry young Kiwis will face three intense races across the weekend, including a 45-minute feature on Sunday that will push their racecraft, tyre management, and determination to the limit.

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: FIA Formula 1 World Championship

• Where? Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 11:30 PM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 3:00 AM
  • Practice 3: Saturday 10:30 PM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 2:00 AM
  • Grand Prix: Monday 1:00 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports / F1 TV

Liam Lawson delivered his most impressive Formula 1 performance to date in Monaco last weekend, scoring a career-best eighth place and securing valuable points on the streets of Monte Carlo in front of his new home crowd.

The Kiwi made headlines early by powering into Q3 for the first time this season, qualifying a superb ninth on the grid. In a race where strategy and precision were paramount, Lawson drove a calm and clever Grand Prix, running in the top ten throughout and executing his pit stops flawlessly.

Monaco Qualifying Recap HERE

His efforts helped Racing Bulls secure a double points finish, and his teamwork with rookie teammate Isack Hadjar proved instrumental in the team’s strategy playing out perfectly. The result marks a significant milestone for Lawson, who now turns his attention to the next round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship in Barcelona this weekend.

Monaco Grand Prix Recap HERE

With momentum on his side, Lawson will be aiming to build on his Monaco breakthrough at the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Louis Sharp: FIA Formula 3 World Championship

• Where? Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 7:55 PM
  • Qualifying: Saturday 1:00 AM
  • Sprint Race: Saturday 8:05 PM
  • Feature Race: Sunday 6:30 PM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports / F1 TV

Louis Sharp showcased poise and precision on one of motorsport’s most iconic stages, scoring points in both the Sprint and Feature Races on his FIA Formula 3 debut at the Monaco Grand Prix. Driving for Rodin Motorsport, Sharp twice turned 13th on the grid into ninth-place finishes, navigating the tight Monte Carlo streets with maturity beyond his years.

In Saturday’s Sprint Race, Sharp made an aggressive midfield move at the start and capitalised on early chaos to vault into the top ten. He kept cool under pressure, eventually executing a clean late-race pass on teammate Callum Voisin to snatch two valuable championship points.

Monaco Sprint Race Recap HERE

The Kiwi’s composed drive set the tone for Sunday’s Feature, where once again he avoided trouble and picked off rivals in a race filled with safety cars and retirements. A series of sharp restarts and clean overtakes propelled him into ninth once more, capping off a productive and confidence-building Monaco weekend.

Monaco Feature Race Recap HERE

With back-to-back points finishes now under his belt, Sharp heads to Barcelona this weekend carrying strong momentum and a growing reputation in the F3 paddock. On a more conventional circuit where overtaking is more feasible, Sharp will be aiming to convert his racecraft and consistency into an even stronger result.

Mitch Evans & Nick Cassidy – FIA Formula E World Championship

• Where? Shanghai International Circuit, China
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 8:00 PM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 12:00 PM
  • Qualifying 1: Saturday 2:20 PM
  • E-Prix (Round 10): Saturday 7:05 PM
  • Practice 3: Sunday 12:00 PM
  • Qualifying 2: Sunday 2:20 PM
  • E-Prix (Round 11): Sunday 7:05PM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports

It was a rollercoaster Tokyo E-Prix weekend for Kiwi duo Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans, with Jaguar TCS Racing enduring highs and lows across the Japanese double-header. Saturday’s rain-soaked Race 1 saw Evans climb from 19th before contact and gearbox damage ended his race early, while Cassidy battled through energy chaos and red flag drama to finish just outside the points in 11th.

Sunday brought more twists. Evans looked set for redemption but crashed heavily in qualifying, forcing a heartbreaking withdrawal from Race 2 due to unrepairable damage. Cassidy, however, delivered a gritty fightback from 13th on the grid to finish seventh—salvaging crucial points with a measured and strategic drive through a chaotic midfield pack.

Tokyo Race 1 Recap HERE
Tokyo Race 2 Recap HERE

With the championship now heading to Shanghai for another double-header this weekend, both Kiwis will be eager to bounce back. Evans will be hoping for a clean reset, while Cassidy carries valuable momentum as he continues his title chase.

Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon & Marcus Armstrong – NTT IndyCar Series

• Where? Detroit Street Circuit, Michigan
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Saturday 7:00 AM
  • Practice 2: Sunday 1:00 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 4:00 AM
  • Race: Monday 4:30 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports

The Indianapolis 500 proved a punishing test for New Zealand’s IndyCar stars, with Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon, and Marcus Armstrong enduring a brutal day at the Brickyard.

McLaughlin’s month of promise ended in heartbreak before the race even began, spinning into the wall on the formation lap in a gut-wrenching early exit.

Dixon, battling mechanical gremlins after a brake fire on the grid, limped home 23rd after spending much of the race multiple laps down. He was later promoted to 20th after post-race disqualifications.

Armstrong, shaken but undeterred after a massive practice crash earlier in the week, fought his way to the chequered flag in 21st after starting from the back in a patched-up backup car. He was later promoted to 18th after post-race disqualifications.

Indianapolis 500 Recap HERE

It wasn’t the result the Kiwi trio deserved, but it showcased their resilience in the face of adversity. Now, all eyes turn to Detroit this weekend for Round 7, where the tight, bumpy street circuit offers a fresh chance for redemption. McLaughlin will be fired up to bounce back, Dixon is always dangerous on strategy, and Armstrong continues to grow stronger in his sophomore campaign.

Liam Sceats & Callum Hedge – Indy NXT Series

• Where? Detroit Street Circuit, Michigan
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Saturday 6:00 AM
  • Practice 2: Sunday 12:00 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 3:00 AM
  • Race: Monday 2:30 AM
    
• How to Watch? Indycar Live

It was a big weekend for New Zealand’s rising stars in Indy NXT, with both Callum Hedge and Liam Sceats putting in gritty, determined performances at Indianapolis Motor Speedway three weeks ago.

For Hedge, it was his most complete weekend of the season to date, qualifying a career-best 3rd for both races and converting that speed into a season-high fourth in Race 1. He showed real racecraft throughout the weekend, recovering well from midfield scuffles in Race 2 to bank more valuable points with a 10th place finish. The strong showing lifts him to 8th in the championship, just two points behind Sceats.

For Liam Sceats, it was a weekend defined by tenacity. Despite battling a painful arm infection that nearly ruled him out of Sunday’s race, the 19-year-old Tony Quinn Foundation ambassador drove with heart and composure, charging from 14th to 7th in Race 1 to earn the “Biggest Mover” award. He backed it up with another gritty top-ten in Race 2, finishing 8th in a hard-fought late-race scrap that included Hedge. His efforts move him up to 7th in the standings and underline just how far he’s come in his rookie campaign.

Indianapolis Recap of Sceats HERE
Indianapolis Recap of Hedge HERE

With Sceats recovered and Callum carrying real momentum, Kiwi fans have every reason to be excited as Indy NXT heads to the tough Detroit street circuit this weekend, a track where Hedge claimed his first podium last year.

Earl Bamber – IMSA Sportscar Championship

• Where? Detroit Street Circuit, Michigan
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Saturday 12:00 AM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 3:30 AM
  • Qualifying: Saturday 8:50 AM
  • Practice 3: Sunday 2:35 AM
  • Race: Sunday 7:40 AM
    
• How to Watch? IMSA Official Youtube or IMSA.tv

Kiwi ace Earl Bamber put in another professional shift on the streets of Long Beach last month, teaming up with Jack Aitken to steer the No. 31 Cadillac V-Series.R to a hard-fought fourth-place finish in Round 4 of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. With chaos unfolding around them in the short, sharp 100-minute race, the Cadillac Racing duo stayed clean and capitalised on timely strategy calls to rise from seventh on the grid to just shy of the podium.

Aitken handled the opening stint, navigating through early drama before handing over to Bamber under a full-course yellow. The Kiwi immediately went to work, climbing up the order and later finding himself locked in a tense scrap for third with BMW’s Philipp Eng. Despite applying heavy pressure in the closing stages, Bamber ultimately crossed the line fourth, a solid result on a day where track position was everything.

“Whenever you start here seventh and finish fourth, with a clean car or not a mark on it, I think that’s a pretty good day,” Bamber reflected post-race.

IMSA Long Beach Recap HERE

Bamber missed Round 5 of the series due to commitments in the FIA World Endurance Championship where he teamed up with Sébastien Bourdais and Jenson Button for the Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA entry for the 6 Hours of Imola race.

6 Hours of Imola Recap HERE

Now the Cadillac team turns its attention to the bumpy streets of Detroit for Round 6 of the IMSA championship this weekend, a track known for its unforgiving layout and high attrition. With Bamber and Aitken showing strong consistency and sharp racecraft, another podium push could well be on the cards. Keep an eye out as the Kiwi looks to muscle Cadillac back into the GTP spotlight.

Shane Van Gisbergen – NASCAR Cup Series

• Where? Nashville Superspeedway, Tennessee
• NZ Times:
  • Practice: Sunday 8:30 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 9:40 AM
  • Race: Monday 11:00 AM
    
• How to Watch? Three Now

Shane van Gisbergen continues to prove he belongs in NASCAR’s top tier, delivering his best oval performance yet in the grueling Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Starting 30th, the Kiwi slipped as low as 37th in the opening laps, but showed grit and growing racecraft to battle back to 14th at the chequered flag.

It was a patient, well-measured drive through chaos and carnage, SVG avoiding trouble, surviving a multi-car wreck just ahead of him in Stage 3, and consistently picking up places as others faltered. For a driver still relatively new to the world of oval racing, it was another significant step forward and a sign of increasing confidence in his debut full-time NASCAR Cup season.

This weekend, Van Gisbergen and the Trackhouse Racing crew head to Nashville Superspeedway for Round 14 of the championship. After a demanding night in Charlotte that saw teammate Ross Chastain charge from dead last to a remarkable victory, momentum is running high within the Trackhouse camp.

With SVG quietly building consistency and comfort in the No.88 Chevrolet, all eyes will be on Nashville to see if the Kiwi can push into the top ten and continue his upward trajectory.

Coca Cola 600 Recap HERE

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

• Where? Queensland Raceway, Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 10:55 AM
  • Practice 2: Friday 2:10 PM
  • Pre-Qualifying: Friday 5:30 PM
  • Qualifying 1: Saturday 11:40 AM
  • Qualifying 2: Saturday 12:05 PM
  • Race 1: Saturday 3:45 PM
  • Race 2: Sunday 2:50 PM
    
• How to Watch? SpeedSeries TV / Youtube

It was a weekend of highs and lows for the Kiwi contingent at Sydney Motorsport Park for Rounds 3 & 4 of the GT World Challenge Australia Championship.

Jaxon Evans, driving alongside Aussie teammate Elliot Schutte in the Arise Racing Ferrari, was flawless, taking a commanding double victory and setting the fastest lap of the weekend. The pair executed two perfectly managed races, combining strategy and raw pace to lead from the front and leave their rivals trailing.

Brendon Leitch and Tim Miles endured a tough start, with contact and a puncture dropping them to 13th in Race 1. But the Team MPC duo bounced back in Race 2, with Leitch charging early before handing over to Miles for a solid run to fifth overall.

The championship now heads to Queensland Raceway this weekend (May 31–June 2) for Round 5 & 6 of the Championship, where Evans and Schutte will look to extend their winning streak, and Leitch and Miles aim to keep climbing up the order.

Round 3 Sydney Race Recap HERE
Round 4 Sydney Race Recap HERE

Tony Quinn & Chris White Jr – GT4 Australia Series

• Where? Queensland Raceway, Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 1:00 PM
  • Pre-Qualifying: Friday 4:15 PM
  • Qualifying 1: Saturday 1:15 PM
  • Qualifying 2: Saturday 1:40 PM
  • Race 1: Saturday 5:50 PM
  • Race 2: Sunday 11:45 AM
    
• How to Watch? YouTube

Rookie Kiwi driver Hugo Allan made a big impression on his GT4 Australia debut at Sydney Motorsport Park, partnering with Tony Quinn in the Keltic Racing Toyota Supra GT4 EVO 2 as part of the Tony Quinn Foundation’s prize drive.

After starting 12th in Race 1, Allan delivered a mature and exciting first stint, dicing with Quinn’s own grandson Ryder in a spirited mid-pack battle under lights. The duo ran as high as 10th before handing over to Quinn, but struggled for pace in the second half, ultimately finishing 20th overall.

In Race 2, Quinn took the start and handed over to Allan mid-race from deep in the field. The reigning Toyota GR86 champion then delivered an inspired charge through the pack, climbing from 23rd to 9th overall and second in the Silver-Am class.

That strong debut sets the stage for the next Kiwi to take the wheel: 2025 Toyota 86 Rookie Champion Chris White Jr will join Quinn for Rounds 5 & 6 at Queensland Raceway this weekend. With Allan’s benchmark now set, all eyes will be on whether White can go one better and stake his claim for further outings in the Supra.

Round 3 Sydney Race Recap HERE
Round 4 Sydney Race Recap HERE

Tom Bewley, William Exton, Hunter Robb & Jackson Rooney – Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia

• Where? Queensland Raceway, Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 12:25 PM
  • Practice 2: Friday 3.40 PM
  • Qualifying: Saturday 11:00 AM
  • Race 1: Saturday 2:55 PM
  • Race 2: Sunday 1.05 PM
  • Race 3: Sunday 4:40 PM
    
• How to Watch? YouTube

The Kiwi quartet of Tom Bewley, William Exton, Hunter Robb, and Jackson Rooney put on a thrilling display at Round 2 of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia at Sydney Motorsport Park earlier this month, setting the stage for a fierce charge into Queensland Raceway this weekend.

Tom Bewley was the standout across the three-race weekend, storming to pole position before converting it into a sensational lights-to-flag win in Race 1. Despite a steering issue that hampered his Race 2 result (5th) and a power steering failure in Race 3, the Earl Bamber Motorsport rookie still managed to set the fastest lap of the final race and bring it home in 7th. His consistency and raw speed earned him 3rd overall in the Pro Class for the round and sees him arrive at Queensland just 9 points shy of the championship lead.

Meanwhile, William Exton endured a mixed weekend after starting 9th in Race 1 and banking a 9th-place finish. Race 2 was marred by chaos, and he dropped to 20th after getting caught in an incident not of his own making. But the TekworkX Motorsport driver fought back hard in Race 3, carving his way through the field from 19th to 9th in an impressive recovery drive, keeping him well in the hunt at 5th in the points standings.

Hunter Robb (Jones Motorsport) and Jackson Rooney (TekworkX Motorsport) also showed grit and resilience. Both were in the thick of the top-10 battle in Race 1, finishing 8th and 7th respectively. Their promising runs in Race 2 ended prematurely after a collision between the pair forced them into retirement. But both rebounded strongly, Rooney charging from 22nd to 8th and Robb from 23rd to a hard-earned 10th in Race 3, completing a Kiwi sweep of positions 7th through 10th.

Round 2 Sydney Race 1 Recap HERE
Round 2 Sydney Race 2 Recap HERE
Round 2 Sydney Race 3 Recap HERE

As the championship heads to Queensland Raceway for Round 3, all four Kiwis remain inside the top 10 in the standings, with Bewley (2nd), Exton (5th), Robb (9th), and Rooney (10th).

Header Image: GT World Challenge Australia