Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

KIWIS RACING ABROAD | JUNE 14–17 WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁

It’s another blockbuster weekend for Kiwi motorsport, with 11 drivers racing across 7 categories on some of the world’s most iconic and demanding circuits. From the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in France to the high-speed blasts of Montréal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the technical twists of Mexico’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and the short, high-intensity oval at Gateway Motorsports Park — New Zealand’s finest are once again going wheel-to-wheel with the world’s best.

From gruelling endurance battles to high-stakes single-seaters and elbows-out touring car fights, the silver fern will be proudly on display across multiple continents this weekend. Expect high drama at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Kiwi legends are etched into the history books.

In Canada, precision and pace take centre stage as Formula 1 and Porsche Carrera Cup North America roar back into action.

Meanwhile, over in the U.S., the IndyCar and Indy NXT title fights heat up once again — and south of the border, NASCAR takes on the twists and turns of Mexico’s road course in a highly anticipated showdown.

Brendon Hartley & Earl Bamber – 24 Hours of Le Mans

• Where? Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France
• NZ Times:
  • Hyperpole 1: Friday 7:05 AM
  • Hyperpole 2: Friday 7:45 AM
  • Free Practice 4: Friday 9:00 AM
  • Warm Up: Saturday 10:00PM
  • 24 Hours of Le Mans: Sunday 2:00 AM
    
• How to Watch? FIA WEC TV

Motorsport’s most iconic endurance race celebrates its 93rd running, and two Kiwi aces are in the Hypercar fight.

Brendon Hartley returns with Toyota Gazoo Racing, sharing the #8 GR010 HYBRID with Sébastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa as they chase a fifth Le Mans crown for Toyota. Last year, the trio looked strong all race and led multiple times. But with just two hours to go, Hartley was spun around at Mulsanne after contact from the #51 Ferrari. Though the Ferrari copped a time penalty, the damage was done — the Kiwi squad recovered to finish fifth.

Earl Bamber, a two-time winner, lines up with Cadillac Racing (Hertz Team JOTA) alongside Sébastien Bourdais and F1 World Champion Jenson Button. Last year, Bamber teamed up with Alex Lynn and Alex Palou and they also spent time in the lead thanks to an alternate strategy. But a late downpour shuffled the order, and they crossed the line seventh.

At the front, Ferrari made it back-to-back wins with the #50 499P taking victory after a tense fight with Toyota, Porsche, and Cadillac in a race that featured the longest-ever Safety Car period due to torrential overnight rain.

2024 Le Mans Full Recap CLICK HERE

Tim Miles – Ford Mustang Challenge

• Where? Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France
• NZ Times:
  • Free Practice 1 & 2: Thursday 8:30 PM
  • Race 1: Friday 9:00 PM
  • Race 2: Saturday 6:45 PM
    
• How to Watch? IMSA YouTube

Tim Miles, currently competing in the GT World Challenge Australia alongside Kiwi teammate Brendon Leitch, will be on track this weekend at Le Mans in the Ford Mustang Challenge support category. He joins Australian businessman and multi-track owner Tony Quinn in the 40-car invitational field. Other big names in the invitational non-points round is NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz, former Top Gear host Chris Harris, Ford drift stars Tanner Foust and Chelsea DeNofa and Ford Global CEO Jim Farley.

Miles will be racing in the #47 Wall Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse R entry.

Liam Lawson – FIA Formula 1 World Championship

• Where? Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal, Canada
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Saturday 5:30 AM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 9:00 AM
  • Practice 3: Sunday 4:30 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 8:00 AM
  • Race: Monday 6:00 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports / F1 TV

Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador Liam Lawson delivered another gritty and determined drive at the Spanish Grand Prix, narrowly missing out on a points finish after a strong showing across the weekend. The Kiwi qualified 13th, just shy of Q3 and showed impressive pace and racecraft on Sunday to climb into the top ten by mid-race.

Battling hard with the likes of Albon and Bearman, Lawson held his own in a chaotic midfield fight. He gained spots through sharp overtakes and smart strategy but was ultimately undone by an ill-timed Safety Car late in the race. Opting not to pit, Lawson was left vulnerable on worn tyres and slipped back to 11th in the closing laps, agonisingly close to another points haul.

Spanish Grand Prix Full Recap CLICK HERE

While the result didn’t reflect the effort, Lawson’s drive was another showcase of maturity, aggression, and pace. With the Canadian Grand Prix up next, he’ll be hoping a little luck swings his way in Montreal.

Ryan Yardley & Madeline Stewart – Porsche Carrera Cup North America

• Where? Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal, Canada
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Saturday 2:00 AM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 7:00 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 2:25 AM
  • Race 1: Sunday 10:05 AM
  • Race 2: Monday 1:30 AM
    
• How to Watch? IMSA TV, IMSA YouTube or Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube

Round 2 of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America in Miami delivered a rollercoaster weekend for Kiwi duo Ryan Yardley and Madeline Stewart.

Yardley started strong with a front-row grid slot for Race 1 after post-qualifying penalties to others. He showed race-winning speed and was running second when contact from a rival sent him spinning down the order. Undeterred, the Topp Racing driver fought back to finish 12th overall and 10th in class. Race 2 brought redemption, after a fierce battle and a post-race penalty for a rival, Yardley was promoted to second place, capping off the weekend with a hard-earned podium.

Madeline Stewart, meanwhile, showed steady progress for JDX Racing. Starting near the back, she improved her position in both races, finishing 18th and 19th overall and logging two top-15 results in the Pro class. Despite technical hurdles, she showed strong consistency and posted her best laps of the season so far.

Miami Full Recap CLICK HERE

Next stop: the streets of Montréal. Round 3 of the championship runs alongside the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, with Yardley aiming to stay in the Pro class title hunt and Stewart looking to continue her upward trajectory.

Shane Van Gisbergen – NASCAR Cup Series

• Where? Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Saturday 5:05 AM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 7:00 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 4:00 AM
  • Race: Monday 7:00 AM
    
• How to Watch? ThreeNow

Shane van Gisbergen delivered another composed drive in his NASCAR Cup Series rookie campaign, climbing from 26th on the grid to finish 18th in a chaotic and fuel-critical Round 15 at Michigan International Speedway.

The Kiwi showed steady improvement throughout the race, gaining nine spots in the final green-flag run. A minor pit road hiccup—when a tool had to be retrieved from the car’s rear window—cost him time, but he recovered well to notch a top-20 result in what he described as the fastest race track he’s ever raced on.

While Denny Hamlin took the win on fumes in a wild closing stint, van Gisbergen stayed clear of the day’s major incidents and banked more valuable miles in the No. 88 Trackhouse Chevrolet.

Michigan Full Recap CLICK HERE

Now all eyes turn to history in the making. Next up is Round 16 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, the first NASCAR Cup Series points-paying race outside the U.S. since 1958. SVG will be aiming to shine on familiar territory—road courses—and push for a breakthrough race win as the season passes its halfway mark and play-off rounds near.

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

• Where? Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Illinois
• NZ Times:
  • Practice: Sunday 3:30 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 7:00 AM
  • High Line & Final Practice: Sunday 9:30 AM
  • Race: Monday 12:00 PM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports

It was a dramatic and tactical affair on the streets of Detroit, where all three Kiwi IndyCar drivers battled through setbacks to finish just outside the top 10 at the 2025 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Kyle Kirkwood took a commanding win, but the New Zealand contingent showed grit in a race shaped by caution periods, tyre strategy, and survival.

Scott Dixon, who was forced to start 16th due to an engine change penalty, played a long strategy game with three stops and clean execution from his Ganassi crew. He clawed his way forward to finish 11th, gaining five spots and once again proving his relentless consistency.

Scott McLaughlin looked to be in the mix for the win early on, briefly leading the race thanks to a well-timed pit stop under yellow. But contact with Nolan Siegel earned him a drive-through penalty, dropping him to the back of the pack. Despite the setback, the Team Penske driver charged back through the field to finish 12th, salvaging strong points.

Marcus Armstrong delivered his best result of the season, finishing an impressive 6th after staying out under a late-race caution and fighting hard in the final sprint to the line. The result marked a significant step forward for Armstrong and the Meyer Shank Racing squad.

Detroit Grand Prix Full Recap CLICK HERE

The Kiwi trio now turns their focus to Round 8 at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois – a fan-favourite 1.25-mile oval with a unique, asymmetric shape and varying banking in each corner. Gateway’s blend of short-track intensity and strategic nuance should provide another exciting chapter in the 2025 IndyCar Championship.

Callum Hedge – Indy NXT

• Where? Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Illinois
• NZ Times:
  • Practice: Sunday 5:00 AM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 8:30 AM
  • Race: Monday 8:30 AM
    
• How to Watch? IndyCar Live

After showing strong form in Indianapolis, it was a bruising weekend for Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador’s Callum Hedge and Liam Sceats at the Detroit Grand Prix, a race marred by early carnage and costly penalties that left both Kiwis fighting from the back.

Callum Hedge qualified a solid 6th after an improved showing in practice and a strong run in the first qualifying group. But his race unravelled on the opening lap after making contact with Myles Rowe, triggering a six-car pile-up that brought out the red flag. Though Hedge escaped major damage, he was handed a 15-second penalty for avoidable contact, dropping him to 11th by the finish.

Liam Sceats, who had a steady qualifying to start 16th, was caught behind the lap-one incident and lost a lap before he could rejoin the race. Despite avoiding any damage, he was unable to recover and crossed the line in 14th. Despite the rough weekend, the Kiwi duo remain neck-and-neck in the championship standings, with Hedge holding 7th on 107 points and Sceats close behind in 8th with 106.

Detroit Full Recap CLICK HERE

Unfortunately Sceats won’t be lining up on the grid this weekend, after making the tough call to sit out due to an ongoing engine performance issue that has impacted recent rounds. The decision follows Liam’s first oval test at Iowa Speedway last week, where he impressed with his rapid adaptation to the high-speed demands of oval racing — pushing at over 280km/h and gaining confidence with each run.

Despite feeling comfortable in the car and nailing the setup, the test also highlighted just how limiting the engine issue had become — especially on an oval, where outright speed is critical. After discussions with the team, Liam has opted to wait until a fresh engine becomes available, choosing to invest wisely rather than race without a fair shot at the front.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Liam explained, “but with budget considerations and our goal to fight for podiums, it makes sense to invest wisely rather than turn up knowing we won’t be truly competitive.”

While he won’t be behind the wheel in St Louis, Liam will still be at the circuit supporting the team and his fellow Kiwis, continuing to build relationships and gain knowledge within the IndyCar paddock. His focus is now firmly on returning to the grid at Road America next weekend with a package capable of running up front.

Full Weekend Schedule:

Category	Event	Date/Time
Ford Mustang Challenge	Free Practice 1 & 2	Thursday 12th June 8:30 PM
24 Hours of Le Mans	Hyperpole 1	Friday 13th June 7:05 AM
24 Hours of Le Mans	Hyperpole 2	Friday 13th June 7:45 AM
24 Hours of Le Mans	Free Practice 4	Friday 13th June 9:00 AM
Ford Mustang Challenge	Race 1	Friday 13th June 9:00 PM
Porsche Carrera Cup North America	Practice 1	Saturday 14th June 2:00 AM
NASCAR Cup Series	Practice 1	Saturday 14th June 5:05 AM
Formula 1	Practice 1	Saturday 14th June 5:30 AM
Porsche Carrera Cup North America	Practice 2	Saturday 14th June 7:00 AM
NASCAR Cup Series	Practice 2	Saturday 14th June 7:00 AM
Formula 1	Practice 2	Saturday 14th June 9:00 AM
Ford Mustang Challenge	Race 2	Saturday 14th June 6:45 PM
24 Hours of Le Mans	Race Warm-Up	Saturday 14th June 10:00 PM
24 Hours of Le Mans	24 Hours of Le Mans Race	Sunday 15th June 2:00 AM
Porsche Carrera Cup North America	Qualifying	Sunday 15th June 2:25 AM
IndyCar	Practice	Sunday 15th June 3:30 AM
NASCAR Cup Series	Qualifying	Sunday 15th June 4:00 AM
Formula 1	Practice 3	Sunday 15th June 4:30 AM
Indy NXT	Practice	Sunday 15th June 5:00 AM
IndyCar	Qualifying	Sunday 15th June 7:00 AM
Formula 1	Qualifying	Sunday 15th June 8:00 AM
Indy NXT	Qualifying	Sunday 15th June 8:30 AM
IndyCar	High Line & Final Practice	Sunday 15th June 9:30 AM
Porsche Carrera Cup North America	Race 1	Sunday 15th June 10:05 AM
Porsche Carrera Cup North America	Race 2	Monday 16th June 1:30 AM
24 Hours of Le Mans	24 Hours of Le Mans Race Finish	Monday 16th June 2:00 AM
Formula 1	Canadian Grand Prix	Monday 16th June 6:00 AM
NASCAR Cup Series	Viva Mexico 250 Race	Monday 16th June 7:00 AM
Indy NXT	Race	Monday 16th June 8:30 AM
IndyCar	Race	Monday 16th June 12:00 PM

Header Image: Toyota Gazoo Racing