The motorsport action keeps coming thick and fast, and this weekend is no exception, with Kiwi drivers carving up circuits across Europe, Australia, Japan and the United States. From high-speed slipstreams to technical challenges, New Zealand’s best are back in the thick of it. Buckle up—this weekend’s lineup is packed.
From the sun-scorched tarmac of Perth to the technical twists of Aragon, from Michigan’s superspeedway to Portugal’s Algarve rollercoaster — and the windy tarmac roads of Gunma Prefecture, Kiwis are suiting up and going full throttle. With rising stars and seasoned pros alike flying the fern, here’s where our drivers are going to battle.
Cormac Buchanan is back on the world stage as the Moto3 World Championship heads to the flowing MotorLand Aragón circuit in Spain. The 18-year-old Southlander continues to build experience and speed in the ultra-competitive two-wheeled world. With fast corners, elevation changes, and punishing heat, Aragón is no easy task, but Cormac’s determination is ever in short supply.
Shane van Gisbergen tackles another oval with the NASCAR Cup Series returning to Michigan International Speedway. After a solid run that ended on a sour note at Nashville, he’ll look to rebound with a strong showing on the 2-mile superspeedway. Known for its high speeds and broad racing line, Michigan is all about throttle control, clean air, and drafting smarts. Expect SVG to be elbows-out as he continues his steep learning curve in the big leagues.
Matt Payne, Andre Heimgartner, Richie Stanaway, Jaxon Evans & Ryan Wood, the Kiwi powerhouse lineup heads west for the Supercars Perth Super440. Matt Payne, Andre Heimgartner and Ryan Wood will aim to capitalise on their recent momentum, while Richie Stanaway looks to bounce back after a tough run in Tasmania. Jaxon Evans is showing more speed every round, and could spring a surprise on the tight, abrasive Wanneroo circuit after finishing on the podium last weekend in the GT World Challenge Australia series. Two 50-lap races and one 83-lap enduro race await, with tyre degradation, track evolution, and pit strategy all set to play a significant role.
Ayrton Hodson returns to action in the thundering TA2 Muscle Car Series, running as a support category to Supercars. The raw, V8-powered machines put on a spectacular show, and Hodson has already proven he’s one to watch in the field after a solid run at Bathurst back in April. Keep an eye on his progress as he takes on the WA heat and the unforgiving layout of Wanneroo.
Zach Scoular heads to the undulating Algarve International Circuit in Portugal for the next chapter of his debut Eurocup-3 campaign after a strong showing at the Red Bull Ring for Round 1 of the 2025 Eurocup-3 Championship. The Portimão track is a favourite among drivers for its blind crests, heavy braking zones, and rollercoaster feel. Scoular’s rapid rise continues as he takes on another technical test with confidence and precision.
Zeal Jones & Bayden Thomson are back in action this weekend for Round 4 of the Morizo Challenge Cup at the Montre Rally in Gunma, Japan. A key event in the All Japan Rally Championship featuring eight stages over 77.18 km. After a challenging Rally Asuka that saw them battle through mechanical issues to finish fourth, the duo are aiming to bounce back and return to the podium.
Marco Giltrap will join Brock Gilchrist on the grid for Carrera Cup Asia this weekend at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit for the first endurance event of the 2025 season. Gilchrist is set to make his return after being sidelined last round due to emergency appendicitis surgery, while Giltrap seizes the opportunity to gain valuable seat time between his Carrera Cup Australia commitments.
Toby McCormack is back in action this weekend as the Australian Formula Ford Series heads to Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland for Round 2. With valuable experience gained and strong pace shown at Phillip Island, Toby is looking to build momentum and make the most of another new circuit as he continues his debut season in Australia.
Check out our detailed weekend preview below for everything you need to know, including session times, how to watch, and who’s racing where.
Cormac Buchanan: Moto3 World Championship
- Where? MotorLand Aragón, Spain.
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 7:00 PM
- Practice: Friday 11:15 PM
- Free Practice 2: Saturday 6:40 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 10:50 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 11:15 PM
- Race: Sunday 9:00 PM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone delivered all the chaos and close-quarters drama Moto3 is known for, including a photo finish, fiery crashes, and rapid-fire lead changes.
For New Zealand’s Cormac Buchanan, it was a weekend of grit and perseverance. After a standout sixth in practice, a high-side crash during qualifying dashed hopes of a strong grid spot, forcing the Kiwi to start 19th. But he regrouped and clawed his way forward in a chaotic 15-lap thriller, ultimately finishing 14th and banking two valuable championship points.
Battered but buoyed by clear signs of progress, Buchanan now shifts focus to the flowing corners of MotorLand Aragó, a modern classic known for fast straights, heavy braking zones, and intense racing. Expect the Kiwi to come back swinging as the Moto3 action resumes this weekend for the Grand Prix of Aragon.
Silverstone Recap HERE
Shane Van Gisbergen: NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Sunday 1:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 2:40 AM
- Race: Monday 6:00 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Shane van Gisbergen continued to make strides in his NASCAR Cup Series rookie campaign, delivering his best oval qualifying result yet at Nashville Superspeedway. The Kiwi lined up 23rd, outpacing the likes of Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, and teammate Daniel Suárez, before wrestling his way through a chaotic race night filled with cautions, strategy gambles, and midfield mayhem.
SVG climbed as high as 13th during Stage 2, showcasing his growing confidence on high-speed ovals. While a late-race strategy didn’t quite stick, he still brought the car home in 25th, the final driver on the lead lap, banking more experience ahead of this weekend’s high-speed challenge at Michigan International Speedway.
Nashville Superspeedway Recap HERE
Matt Payne, Andre Heimgartner, Richie Stanaway, Jaxon Evans & Ryan Wood: Supercars Championship
- Where? Wanneroo Raceway, Perth
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 4:05 PM
- Practice 2: Friday 5:55 PM
- Qualifying (Race 14): Saturday 1:45 PM
- Qualifying (Race 15): Saturday 2:35 PM
- Race 14: Saturday 4:55 PM
- Race 15: Saturday 8:10 PM
- Qualifying (Race 16): Sunday 3:00 PM
- Top Ten Shootout: Sunday 5:05 PM
- Race 16: Sunday 7:15 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Round 4 of the 2025 Supercars Championship at Symmons Plains Raceway was a thrilling showcase of Kiwi talent, culminating in Matt Payne’s sensational win following on from his victories on home soil in Taupō.
After battling hard through the weekend, Payne’s strategic masterclass and grit in Race 13 saw him hold off Triple Eight’s Broc Feeney by a razor-thin 0.05 seconds in a heart-stopping final-lap duel. It was a breakthrough day for Payne, who bounced back from earlier struggles at the tight Tasmanian circuit to claim a well-earned victory. He now holds third place in the championship standings with a commanding 819 points.
Fellow Kiwi Ryan Wood delivered a resilient weekend, bouncing back from spins and contact to finish 6th in Race 11, 16th in Race 12, and 7th in Race 13. His efforts earned him 161 points, lifting him into the championship’s top ten with a total of 539.
Jaxon Evans continued his consistent form with a pair of top-10 finishes and an 11th place in the final race, while Richie Stanaway celebrated his 100th Supercars start with a top-five result in Race 13. Andre Heimgartner battled mixed fortunes, finishing 17th in Race 11, 15th in Race 12 and 8th in the final race, showing a steady increase in pace over the weekend.
Race 11 Recap HERE
Race 12 Recap HERE
Race 13 Recap HERE
With four New Zealanders finishing inside the top 10 in the final race and Payne’s breakthrough win, the Kiwi contingent is building strong momentum as the championship heads west to the fast and flowing Perth SuperSprint this weekend. Expect the New Zealanders to be right in the thick of the action once again.
Ayrton Hodson: TA2 Racing Australians Muscle Car Series
- Where? Wanneroo Raceway, Perth
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Friday 1:00 PM
- Qualifying: Friday 3:00 PM
- Race 1: Friday 6:40 PM
- Race 2: Saturday 12.35 PM
- Race 3: Saturday 4:05 PM
- Race 4: Sunday 2:20 PM
- How to Watch? SkySports
The roar of V8 muscle cars filled Mount Panorama as the TA2 Australia Racing Series kicked off Round 2 of the 2025 season alongside the Bathurst 6 Hour. A massive 41-car field battled the legendary circuit — including Kiwi rising star Ayrton Hodson.
With only one practice session before qualifying, Hodson impressed by climbing to P4 in the TA2 class and 19th overall, slashing five seconds off his practice time. Despite a red flag interruption, the 20-year-old showed remarkable pace in his maiden Bathurst outing, driving a Ford Mustang prepared by Ashley Jarvis Racing.
Race 1 was a solid debut for Hodson, who steadily improved his lap times and finished fifth in TA2 and 19th overall. Fellow Kiwi Aaron Prosser also competed well, qualifying 11th in TA2, though mechanical issues forced his early retirement.
Hodson’s rookie Bathurst experience provided invaluable lessons on one of the world’s most demanding tracks. He’s set to return for Round 3 this weekend in Perth, aiming to build on a promising debut and continue climbing the TA2 ranks.
Stay tuned as Hodson looks to make his mark in the upcoming Perth round.
TA2 Round 2 Bathurst Recap HERE
Zack Scoular: Eurocup-3
- Where? Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 8:00 PM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 11:50 PM
- Free Practice 3: Saturday 8:55 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 11:05 PM
- Race 1: Sunday 1:25 AM
- Sprint Race: Sunday 3:55 AM
- Qualifying 2: Sunday 8:30 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 11:50 PM
- How to Watch? YouTube (Races only)
The 2025 Eurocup-3 Championship roared to life at Austria’s Red Bull Ring, with Kiwi teenager Zack Scoular making his full-season debut against a fiercely competitive international field.
Scoular, driving for Palou Motorsport, showed steady progress across the sessions, improving his pace through practice and qualifying, and holding his own in wheel-to-wheel battles.
The 17-year-old endured a tough start after mechanical issues limited his pre-event testing. But he bounced back to finish 18th in Race 1 and 23rd in Race 2—solid results on a new circuit and in his first weekend of championship competition.
While not yet at the sharp end, he leaves Austria 19th in the standings and just six points outside the top 10.
Now, attention turns to Portugal’s Algarve International Circuit this weekend, where Scoular has prior mileage from the Winter Series. With experience on his side and Round 1 under his belt, the Kiwi will be looking to climb the order in Portimão.
Round 1 Recap HERE
Zeal Jones & Bayden Thomson: Morizo Challenge Cup
- Where? Annaka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan
- NZ Times:
- SS1: Saturday 1:03 PM
- SS2: Saturday 3:06 PM
- SS3: Saturday 6:09 PM
- SS4: Saturday 8:17 PM
- SS5: Sunday 10.58 AM
- SS6: Sunday 11:36 AM
- SS7: Sunday 3:39 PM
- SS8: Sunday 4:17 PM
- How to Watch: Toyota Gazoo Racing Official Youtube
- Live Timing, Live Tracking and Stage Maps: CLICK HERE
Kiwi rally duo Zeal Jones and co-driver Bayden Thomson return to action this weekend for Round 4 of the 2025 Morizo Challenge Cup, the Montre Rally, held in the mountainous terrain of Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The event, officially titled the Kase Yuji Cup MONTRE 2025, forms part of the prestigious All Japan Rally Championship and is considered a highlight on the national calendar.
With 12 cars entered in the Morizo Challenge Cup category for emerging talent, Jones and Thomson will face off against some tough competitors over two days and eight special stages totalling 77.18 km. Among them is the iconic “Old Usui Touge” stage, using the legendary Usui Pass on National Route 18, which remains a fan-favourite for its technical demand and historic significance.
For the Cusco Racing-backed Kiwis, this rally carries extra weight. “This rally is our team’s home course, so we want to show a good performance,” said Jones
“Every rally is a first for us, so we go back to basics and prepare by watching videos, collecting information on the stages, and looking at maps. We also focus on mental skills, nutrition, and physical training so that we can be in the best possible condition. It will be very hot, so we need to be in top physical condition. We will work closely with the team.”
Following a gritty drive to fourth place in Round 3 at Rally Asuka where they battled through a double puncture, broken rims, and a full overnight gearbox change, the pair are determined to bounce back into podium contention. Despite narrowly missing their third consecutive top-three finish by just 4.7 seconds last month, their pace when untroubled showed they’re right on the cusp of a breakthrough.
Brock Gilchrist & Marco Giltrap: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Endurance Cup
- Where? Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice: Friday 6:45 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 7:00 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 11:10 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 3:10 PM
- Race 3: Sunday 7:00 PM
- How to Watch? YouTube
Kiwi duo Marco Giltrap and Brock Gilchrist are back in action this weekend as the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia returns to the iconic Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for Rounds 5, 6, and 7, including the highly anticipated Endurance Cup event. The 28-car grid will face a mix of day and night racing at the former Formula 1 venue, with both Giltrap and Gilchrist suiting up in Team Porsche New Zealand machinery.
For Gilchrist, it marks a welcome return to the cockpit after being forced to sit out the previous round in Motegi due to emergency appendicitis surgery. Meanwhile, Giltrap returns to Sepang aiming to make amends after last year’s Enduro ended in disappointment, his race cut short after being turned into the barriers while running strongly in tricky conditions. With redemption on the cards and valuable points on offer, both Kiwis are set to push hard under the Malaysian lights.
Toby McCormack: Formula Ford Australia
- Where? Morgan Park Raceway, Queensland
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Saturday 11:50 AM
- Race 1: Saturday 2:55 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 10:55 AM
- Race 3: Sunday 2:55 PM
- How to Watch? Not streamed/televised. You can watch live timing on Natsoft
Toby McCormack made a promising start to his Australian Formula Ford campaign last month at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, as both the opening round of the national series and Round 3 of the Victorian Formula Ford Championship unfolded over the May 16–18 weekend.
Competing in his familiar chassis but now with a Duratec engine under the hood, Toby quickly found the differences in car dynamics a new challenge—but one he adapted to rapidly. Despite limited running in shortened practice sessions, he was on the pace by Friday’s final session. Qualifying, however, proved frustrating as traffic kept him from a clean lap, leaving him 14th on the grid.
In Race 1, a slow getaway due to lack of practice starts saw Toby drop back to 18th, but he mounted an impressive comeback drive through the field to finish 8th. A strong start in Race 2 had him climbing to 7th before a dramatic rollover incident brought the race to an early end and was ultimately declared a non-event.
The final race of the weekend saw McCormack mixing it up in the battle for sixth before contact from another driver ended his charge and forced a retirement. Despite the setbacks, Toby came away from the weekend with valuable experience and confidence in his pace. Now with one round under his belt and a new circuit ahead, he heads to Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland this weekend looking to build on the speed he showed at Phillip Island.
Header Image: Supercars
