KIWIS RACING ABROAD | JULY 18-21 WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
It’s a slightly quieter weekend on the international motorsport calendar, but Kiwi drivers are still in action across six categories, taking on ovals, street circuits, and road courses around the world.
Shane van Gisbergen is back in action in the NASCAR Cup Series, taking on the tough concrete oval of Dover Motor Speedway for Trackhouse Racing in Round 21 of the season.
In Toronto, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin, and Marcus Armstrong will contest Round 13 of the IndyCar Series on the tight Canadian street circuit.
Also on the streets of Toronto, young drivers Jacob Douglas and Sebastian Manson are set for Rounds 15 and 16 of the USF Pro 2000 Championship, as they continue to build experience in the Road to Indy ladder.
Across in Europe, Moto3 rookie Cormac Buchanan heads to the Czech Grand Prix at Brno for Round 12, taking on one of the most iconic circuits on the calendar with BOE Motorsports.
In Asia, Brendon Leitch teams up once again with Jiajun Song at Korea’s Inje Speedium for Round 4 of Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, racing with Leipert Motorsport.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., Ryan Yardley makes his GT4 America debut at Virginia International Raceway. He’ll share the ACI Motorsports Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport with Damir Hot for Rounds 6 and 7 of the series.
Whether it’s the high-speed oval in Dover, the tight turns of Toronto, or the technical challenge of Inje Speedium, Kiwi racers are once again showcasing their skills on tracks around the world.
Check out our detailed weekend preview below for everything you need to know, including session times, how to watch, and who’s racing where. ⬇️
Shane Van Gisbergen – NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Dover Motor Speedway, Delaware, USA.
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Sunday 5:20 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:45 AM
- Race: Monday 6:00 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Shane van Gisbergen delivered another standout performance in his debut NASCAR Cup Series season last weekend, storming to a commanding win at Sonoma Raceway to continue his remarkable road course dominance.
Starting from pole, van Gisbergen led the field with composure and racecraft well beyond his rookie status, fending off constant pressure from Chase Briscoe in a race marked by late cautions and multiple restarts.
SVG held his nerve through it all, pulling clear in the closing laps to claim his third Cup Series win, all on road courses and all from the front row.
In doing so, van Gisbergen became the first driver in 26 years to win three consecutive road course races from pole. The result also boosted him to third in the playoff standings and underscored his rapid growth in the category since his full-time switch from Supercars.
“This whole year we’ve just been building, getting better and better,” SVG said post-race. “Now we need to keep improving on the ovals and start proving some people wrong.”
➡️ Sonoma Race Recap HERE
That opportunity comes this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series returns to oval racing for Round 21 at Dover Motor Speedway. It’s a key moment in SVG’s development, with the Kiwi continuing to chip away at the steep learning curve of oval racing.
While road courses have been his strength, van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing have shown steady gains on ovals throughout the season, and with confidence high after Sonoma, all eyes will be on how he carries that momentum into the concrete mile at Dover.
With three wins, multiple poles, and a spot firmly in the playoff mix, SVG’s NASCAR journey is gathering serious pace on every type of track.
Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon & Marcus Armstrong – NTT IndyCar Series
- Where? Streets of Toronto, Canada
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 7:00 AM
- Practice 2: Sunday 2:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:30 AM
- Race: Monday 4:00 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
After a dramatic doubleheader at Iowa Speedway, Kiwi IndyCar drivers Scott Dixon, Marcus Armstrong, and Scott McLaughlin head to the streets of Toronto this weekend for Round 13 of the 2025 season.
All three left Iowa with strong results: Armstrong claimed his first podium of the year in Race 2, McLaughlin charged from last to fourth in Race 1, and Dixon finished second in Race 2, boosting him to third in the championship.
Armstrong’s podium marked his sixth consecutive top-10 and his first podium since Detroit 2024, while Dixon’s late-race pace showed he’s still firmly in the title hunt. McLaughlin’s Race 1 heroics were among the drives of the season, though Race 2 ended early after first-lap contact.
➡️ Iowa Speedway Recap HERE
The trio now turn their focus to Toronto’s unforgiving street circuit. Armstrong, who finished fifth here in 2024, will look to continue his momentum. Dixon aims to close the gap in the title race, while McLaughlin is hungry for redemption with five rounds remaining in the season.
Jacob Douglas & Sebastian Manson – USF Pro 2000
- Where? Streets of Toronto, Canada
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Saturday 3:35 AM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 6:10 AM
- Qualifying 2: Sunday 1:35 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 8:20 AM
- Race 2: Monday 2:20 AM
- How to Watch? USF Pro Championships Youtube
Kiwi USF Pro 2000 drivers Jacob Douglas and Sebastian Manson return to action this weekend on the streets of Toronto for Rounds 15 and 16 of the 2025 season, the penultimate stop in the championship.
Last time out at Mid-Ohio, Douglas bounced back into podium form with a strong second-place finish in Race 2, adding to a solid fifth in Race 1. The Pabst Racing driver showed top-three pace all weekend and now sits fifth in the standings, just 24 points off fourth.
Manson also impressed in Race 1, climbing from 16th to ninth for his fifth top-10 of the season. However, his weekend ended on a low note after contact in Race 2 forced him to retire early. Despite the setback, the TJ Speed rookie remains 13th in the standings and continues to show steady improvement.
➡️ Mid-Ohio Recap HERE
The duo now heads to Toronto’s tight, unforgiving street circuit, a track where precision and momentum will be key as the championship enters its final stretch.
Cormac Buchanan – Moto3 World Championship
- Where? BRNO Circuit, Czech Republic
- 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
Cormac Buchanan heads to the Czech Republic this weekend for Round 12 of the Moto3 World Championship, riding high after a breakthrough performance at the Sachsenring.
The 18-year-old Kiwi delivered a career-best ninth-place finish in a thrilling and unpredictable race, showcasing speed, grit, and composure in changing conditions.
After advancing through Q1 as the fastest rider and qualifying P8, his best starting position yet, Buchanan surged into podium contention early before battling through mid-race challenges to rejoin the fight and secure his third top-10 of the season.
➡️ Sachsenring Recap HERE
Now 19th in the championship standings, the Invercargill native will look to keep the momentum going this weekend at Brno, a fast, flowing circuit that marks the start of Moto3’s second half. With confidence growing and results trending upward, Buchanan is proving he belongs in the thick of the Moto3 pack.
Brendon Leitch – Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia
- Where? Inje Speedium, South Korea
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 3:10 PM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 6:45 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 2:15 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 2:40 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 7:15 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 3:30 PM
- How to Watch? Lamborghini Squadra Corse YouTube
Brendon Leitch is back in action this weekend as the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series heads to South Korea’s Inje Speedium for Round 4.
Leitch made an eye-catching return last month at Fuji, teaming up with Chinese driver Song Jiajun for their first outing together in 2025.
The Leipert Motorsport duo impressed immediately, finishing on the Pro-Am podium in Race 1 before storming from 15th on the grid to claim a Pro-Am class win and second overall in Race 2.
➡️ Round 3 Fuji Recap HERE
With momentum on their side and chemistry already clicking, Leitch and Song now sit second in the Pro-Am standings behind SJM Theodore Racing.
As the season heads into the final three rounds, they’ll be aiming to keep the pressure on and continue their push for the title.
Ryan Yardley – GT4 America
- Where? Virginia International Raceway, USA.
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 4:25 AM
- Practice 2: Saturday 9:15 AM
- Qualifying 1: Sunday 2:15 AM
- Qualifying 2: Sunday 2:35 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 9:00 AM
- Race 2: Monday 3:25 AM
- How to Watch? GT World Youtube
Ryan Yardley makes his GT4 America debut this weekend at Virginia International Raceway, joining ACI Motorsports in the #25 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport alongside American co-driver Damir Hot.
Yardley steps into the ultra-competitive GT4 America Series with a strong pedigree, having finished runner-up in the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup North America and already claiming a win and seven podiums in the 2025 season.
Yardley and Hot bring proven chemistry, having secured a podium together in their first outing at May’s Porsche Endurance Challenge at Circuit of the Americas. While it’s their first time racing the Porsche Cayman, both drivers are confident heading into the weekend.
Currently a front-runner in Porsche Carrera Cup, Yardley now adds another major programme to his expanding international CV as he takes on a new challenge in GT4 competition.
Full Weekend Schedule:
| Date/Time | Category | Event |
| Friday 3:10 PM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia | Free Practice 1 |
| Friday 6:45 PM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia | Free Practice 2 |
| Friday 7:00 PM | Moto3 | Free Practice 1 |
| Friday 11:15 PM | Moto3 | Practice |
| Saturday 3:35 AM | USF Pro 2000 | Practice |
| Saturday 4:25 AM | GT4 America | Practice 1 |
| Saturday 6:10 AM | USF Pro 2000 | Qualifying 1 |
| Saturday 9:15 AM | GT4 America | Practice 2 |
| Saturday 7:00 AM | IndyCar | Practice 1 |
| Saturday 2:15 PM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia | Qualifying 1 |
| Saturday 2:40 PM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia | Qualifying 2 |
| Saturday 6:40 PM | Moto3 | Free Practice 2 |
| Saturday 7:15 PM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia | Race 1 |
| Saturday 10:50 PM | Moto3 | Qualifying 1 |
| Saturday 11:15 PM | Moto3 | Qualifying 2 |
| Sunday 1:35 AM | USF Pro 2000 | Qualifying 2 |
| Sunday 2:30 AM | IndyCar | Practice 2 |
| Sunday 2:35 AM | GT4 America | Qualifying 2 |
| Sunday 5:20 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Practice |
| Sunday 6:30 AM | IndyCar | Qualifying |
| Sunday 6:45 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Qualifying |
| Sunday 8:20 AM | USF Pro 2000 | Race 1 |
| Sunday 9:00 AM | GT4 America | Race 1 |
| Sunday 3:30 PM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia | Race 2 |
| Sunday 9:00 PM | Moto3 | Race |
| Monday 2:20 AM | USF Pro 2000 | Race 2 |
| Monday 3:25 AM | GT4 America | Race 2 |
| Monday 4:00 AM | IndyCar | Race |
| Monday 6:00 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Race |
Header Image: Trackhouse Racing
