KIWIS RACING ABROAD | JULY 25-28 WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
The action ramps up this weekend with a stacked international motorsport calendar, as 16 Kiwi drivers compete across 10 categories, racing from the streets of London to the fast corners of Spa and the rolling hills of Laguna Seca.
In the United States, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin, and Marcus Armstrong return to action for Round 14 of the IndyCar Series at the legendary Laguna Seca road course in California. The trio will take on the high-speed circuit and its famous Corkscrew in the Grand Prix of Monterey.
Callum Hedge and Liam Sceats join them at the Californian track for Rounds 10 and 11 of the Indy NXT Championship, looking to continue strong rookie campaigns.
Also on American soil, Shane van Gisbergen tackles the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Round 22 of the NASCAR Cup Series.
Meanwhile, both van Gisbergen and McLaughlin will also suit up for the grand finale of the Cook Out Summer Shootout in the US Legend Cars Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, racing for Team SSR in a grassroots midweek showdown.
In Europe, Liam Lawson returns to Formula 1 action with Racing Bulls for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, a fan-favourite circuit known for its dramatic elevation changes and unpredictable weather.
In the Formula 3 support category, Louis Sharp lines up for Rodin Motorsport in Round 8 of the championship, continuing his development on the world stage.
Still in Europe but shifting to electric racing, Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy are ready to fight for championship honours as the 2025 Formula E season concludes with a doubleheader in London.
Back down under in Australasia, Sandown Raceway plays host to the GT Festival, where several Kiwi drivers will be behind the wheel.
In GT World Challenge Australia, Jaxon Evans, Ryan Wood and Steve Brooks all feature in action-packed Rounds 7 and 8, while Matt McCutcheon and Tony Quinn will compete in GT4 Australia’s Silver-AM class, both series running as part of the same weekend programme.
In Hungary, young riders Avalon Lewis and Billee Fuller continue their campaigns in the World Women’s Circuit Racing Championship (World WCR) at Balaton Park Circuit, as the all-female motorcycle series contests Round 4 of its season.
Whether it’s mastering Eau Rouge, navigating the Corkscrew, or going wheel-to-wheel through London’s tight indoor-outdoor layout, Kiwi drivers are set to light up tracks across the globe this weekend.
Check out our detailed weekend preview below for everything you need to know, including session times, how to watch, and who’s racing where. ⬇️
Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong – NTT IndyCar Series
- Where? WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, California
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 9:00 AM
- Practice 2: Sunday 3:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:30 AM
- Warm Up: Monday 4:00 AM
- Race: Monday 7:00 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
- Delayed Highlights: YouTube
New Zealand’s IndyCar trio endured a difficult weekend on the streets of Toronto, with all three left to reflect on a race that promised more than it delivered.
Scott Dixon was the best of the group in 10th after a steady drive through the midfield, making up ground late in the race but unable to crack the top eight after strategy and caution timing went against him.
Marcus Armstrong made a brilliant start after qualifying third on the grid, grabbing second on the opening lap, but was shuffled back through the order after getting caught in traffic, a messy pit cycle, and being hit from behind during a mid-race incident. He came home 14th.
Scott McLaughlin’s day ended almost as soon as it started. after making early progress, a loose left-rear wheel following his first stop saw him crash out at Turn 2 on lap 4.
➡️ Streets of Toronto Recap HERE
Now the focus shifts to Laguna Seca for Round 14 of the NTT IndyCar Series, where Dixon, Armstrong and McLaughlin will all be aiming for a cleaner run and a strong result to kick off the final stretch of the season.
Callum Hedge & Liam Sceats – Indy NXT
- Where? WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, California
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 8:00 AM
- Practice 2: Saturday 10:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 5:00 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 8:30 AM
- Race 2: Monday 5:00 AM
- How to Watch? IndyCar Live
After another solid sixth-place finish at Iowa Speedway, Callum Hedge is gearing up for a busy and crucial weekend as the Indy NXT series heads to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for its second and final double-header of the season.
The Iowa weekend wasn’t without challenges. Rain impacted track time and cancelled Qualifying, leaving the Kiwi to start from seventh on the grid based on championship points. Despite a slow start, Hedge kept his cool in a caution-filled race, working his way back to sixth and securing his third consecutive top-six result.
Now seventh in the standings and closing in on sixth-placed Josh Pierson, the Tony Quinn Foundation-backed driver heads to California with momentum on his side and a big opportunity ahead.
Liam Sceats is also back on the Indy NXT grid this weekend after a two-round break, rejoining the field for a double-header at Laguna Seca. Despite missing three of the nine races this season due to mechanical and budget challenges, the 19-year-old Kiwi has impressed in his rookie campaign, scoring multiple Top 10 finishes and proving he belongs at this level.
Sceats has dropped to 16th in the standings but remains just 14 points off third in the Rookie class, keeping his season goals well within reach. Although he’s never raced at Laguna, he did test there earlier in the year with HMD Motorsports and will be running with a new engine package this weekend.
➡️ Iowa Speedway Recap HERE
With two races at Laguna Seca this weekend and five still to go in the season, Hedge is well-positioned to push for his first podium of 2025 and continue climbing the championship ladder while Sceats will be eager to get back behind the wheel and show the grid how it’s done.
Shane Van Gisbergen – NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Saturday 5:05 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:35 AM
- Race: Monday 6:00 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
After a challenging day at Dover, Shane van Gisbergen is back on familiar ground this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Kiwi’s Cup debut at Dover was always going to be tough with no practice or qualifying, and things got even harder just 11 laps in when a flat right-front tyre forced an unscheduled stop.
The early issue dropped him multiple laps down, but van Gisbergen stuck with it, completing the full 400-lap distance to bank valuable experience on one of the toughest ovals on the calendar. He was classified 30th.
➡️ Dover Motor Speedway Recap HERE
Now, van Gisbergen turns his focus to Indianapolis, where he’ll race on the famous oval for the first time in a Cup car.
He does have IMS experience, finishing fourth there in last year’s Xfinity Series race, and will be looking to put that knowledge to use as he continues building his Cup résumé in his rookie season with Trackhouse Racing.
Shane Van Gisbergen & Scott McLaughlin – US Legend Car Series
- Where? Charlotte Motor Speedway, North Carolina
- NZ Times:
- Racing starts Wednesday 30th July 10:00 AM
- Racing starts Wednesday 30th July 10:00 AM
- How to Watch? Flo Racing
Kiwi racing stars Shane van Gisbergen and Scott McLaughlin are set to return to Charlotte Motor Speedway this Wednesday for the season finale of the Cook Out Summer Shootout, wrapping up a thrilling seven weeks of grassroots oval racing with Team SSR in the US Legend Cars Pro division.
Last week’s Round 7 delivered an action-packed race under the lights, where 13-year-old Keelan Harvick, son of former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, claimed a standout win ahead of Van Gisbergen in a dramatic 25-lap feature.
Despite starting 10th, SVG carved his way through the field, climbing into contention after multiple caution periods and running side-by-side with the young Harvick on the final restart. Ultimately, the Kiwi had to settle for second after holding off a late challenge from London McKenzie.
Scott McLaughlin, meanwhile, showed strong pace early on, climbing from 16th into the top 10 and battling door-to-door with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace in the second half of the race. After some late-race shuffling, McLaughlin crossed the line in 11th.
➡️ Round 7 Recap HERE
This week’s finale marks the end of the summer series at Charlotte, where both Van Gisbergen and McLaughlin have used the midweek events to stay sharp between their full-time commitments and indulge in some lighthearted racing between friends, alongside Wallace, who has become close with the two Kiwis.
With one last chance to chase a win, and bragging rights, the two Kiwi legends will be ones to watch as they go wheel-to-wheel one final time this summer.
Liam Lawson – Formula 1
- Where? Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Friday 10:30 PM
- Sprint Qualifying: Saturday 2:30 AM
- Sprint Race: Saturday 10:00 PM
- Qualifying: Sunday 2:00 AM
- Grand Prix: Monday 1:00 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports / F1 TV
Liam Lawson will be out to rebound at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix following a tough outing at Silverstone, where he was taken out on Lap 1 after a three-wide clash with Esteban Ocon and Yuki Tsunoda.
The Racing Bulls driver had shown solid top-10 pace in practice but was edged out in Q1 by the slimmest of margins before his race ended in the Turn 5 barriers. Now, he’ll look to regroup at Spa-Francorchamps – a venue that’s long been kind to the Kiwi.
Lawson has a strong record at the legendary Belgian circuit, including victory in the 2022 Formula 2 sprint race, a feature race podium that same weekend, a third-place finish in F3 in 2020, and another podium in Euroformula Open in 2019.
➡️ Silverstone Grand Prix Recap HERE
With changeable weather expected and a track that rewards brave driving, Spa could be just the place for Lawson to reignite his campaign.
Louis Sharp – Formula 3
- Where? Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Friday 7:00 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 12:00 AM
- Sprint Race: Saturday 7:15 PM
- Feature Race: Sunday 6:30 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports / F1 TV
After a brief break following a rollercoaster weekend at Silverstone, Kiwi Formula 3 racer Louis Sharp is back in the cockpit this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps for Round 8 of the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
The Rodin Motorsport driver endured a tough outing at his ‘home’ round in Britain, struggling for pace in the dry and qualifying a disappointing 23rd. But when the rain arrived for Sunday’s Feature Race, Sharp produced one of the most eye-catching drives of the weekend.
In torrential conditions, he surged through the field to eighth in just six laps, gaining 15 spots before aquaplaning off and into the gravel moments before the race was red-flagged. It was a heartbreaking end to what had been a brilliant charge in nearly undriveable conditions.
➡️ Silverstone Weekend Recap HERE
Despite recent setbacks, Sharp remains focused, and Spa could be the reset he needs. The 7km Belgian circuit is a favourite among drivers and often serves as a wildcard round due to its changeable weather.
With Rodin Motorsport looking to rebound after several challenging events, the team aims to recapture the early-season speed that once had all three drivers in the points.
Sharp, who’s already proven himself in the wet, will be hoping this is the weekend he turns flashes of brilliance into results.
Mitch Evans & Nick Cassidy – Formula E World Championship
- Where? Excel London Circuit, United Kingdom
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Saturday 3:00 AM
- Free Practice 2: Saturday 9:00 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 11:20 PM
- Race (Round 15): Sunday 4:05 AM
- Free Practice 3: Sunday 9:00 PM
- Qualifying: Sunday 11:20 PM
- Race (Round 16): Monday 4:05 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
It’s the final outing for Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans as teammates at Jaguar TCS Racing, with the Kiwi pair heading into this weekend’s 2025 London E-Prix double-header to close out the Formula E season.
Fresh off a Jaguar double-win in Berlin, Evans returned to form in Round 13 with a lights-to-flag victory, his first points since São Paulo and tied the all-time win record (14) in Formula E. Cassidy then stormed through from P20 to take the win in Round 14, his third Berlin triumph in as many years.
With Oliver Rowland (Nissan) crowned champion, the fight is now for second in the standings. Cassidy sits 5th on 102 points, just 23 behind Pascal Wehrlein in P2. Evans is 12th with 60 points but will be aiming to end the season on a high.
This marks Cassidy’s final race weekend with Jaguar, having confirmed his exit at season’s end. With both drivers in strong form and Jaguar chasing teams’ and manufacturers’ honours, expect some hard racing as the Kiwi duo look to finish their partnership in style.
Jaxon Evans, Ryan Wood & Steve Brooks – GT World Challenge Australia
- Where? Sandown International Motor Raceway, Victoria
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 12:00 PM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 3:05 PM
- Pre-Qualifying: Friday 6:25 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 1:15 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 1:40 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 5:10 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 4:05 PM
- How to Watch? YouTube
After an eight-week mid-season break, GT World Challenge Australia roars back into life this weekend at Sandown Raceway, with Kiwis Ryan Wood, Steve Brooks, and Jaxon Evans all back on track for Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2025 season.
It’s the series’ first visit to the iconic Melbourne venue since 2022, and while excitement builds, the event also carries a heavy heart.
Brendon Leitch will not return to the grid, following the tragic passing of his teammate and Kiwi motorsport great Tim Miles earlier this month.
It’s the series’ first visit to the iconic Melbourne venue since 2022, and while excitement builds, the event also carries a heavy heart. Brendon Leitch will not return to the grid, following the tragic passing of his teammate and Kiwi motorsport great Tim Miles earlier this month.
Meanwhile, Evans and Aussie teammate Elliott Schutte arrive as Pro-Am championship leaders, having already claimed three wins this season in their Ferrari 296 GT3. The duo stood on the podium again in Race 1 last time out and came home 5th in Race 2.
Ryan Wood and Steve Brooks make their return after missing the previous round due to other commitments, eager to rejoin the action and build momentum in the second half of the season.
With championship battles heating up and tributes planned for one of New Zealand’s finest, it promises to be a poignant and competitive weekend at Sandown.
Matt McCutcheon & Tony Quinn – GT4 Australia
- Where? Sandown International Motor Raceway, Victoria
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 1:30 PM
- Pre Qualifying: Friday 4:45 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 11:50 AM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 12:15 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 3:20 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 1:30 PM
- How to Watch? YouTube
Young Kiwi talent Matt McCutcheon will reunite with Tony Quinn for Rounds 7 and 8 of the GT4 Australia Championship this weekend, as the pair tackle the Keltic Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO 2 at Sandown Raceway.
It marks McCutcheon’s return to the series and first outing with Quinn since their impressive Sunday victory at Queensland Raceway in 2024, where they shared a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4.
This time, they’ll compete in the Silver-Am class, with McCutcheon facing two fresh challenges, his first time racing at Sandown and his debut in the Toyota Supra GT4.
However, he’s no stranger to the Toyota marque, having claimed wins in the Toyota 86 Racing Series and built a reputation as one of New Zealand’s rising stars.
McCutcheon’s standout performances in Formula Ford and the Toyota 86 helped earn him a Tony Quinn Foundation scholarship in 2022, as well as a mentorship with Shane van Gisbergen, both of whom have closely backed his development.
Quinn has rotated co-drivers this season, with fellow Kiwis Hugo Allan and Chris White also sharing stints. McCutcheon’s return comes as the GT4 Australia grid swells to nearly 30 cars, making for a highly competitive weekend as the championship resumes.
Avalon Lewis & Billee Fuller – World WCR Championship
- Where? Balaton Park Circuit, Hungary
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice: Friday 5:40 PM
- Superpole: Friday 10:10 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 8:05 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 8:05 PM
- How to Watch? YouTube and SkySports
Avalon Lewis and Billee Fuller will look to regroup as the WorldWCR Championship heads into its next phase, following a challenging weekend at Donington Park for the Carl Cox Motorsport pairing.
Lewis pushed through illness and exhaustion at Donington Park, later admitting it likely played a role in her below-par performance. She managed to salvage ninth in Race 1 before a crash in Race 2 brought a frustrating end to a difficult weekend for the experienced Kiwi.
For Fuller, there were positives to take despite finishing 22nd and 21st in the two races. Each round has seen her grow in confidence, and she continues to chip away at her pace and racecraft as the season progresses.
Both riders remain focused on improvement as the season heads into its second half, proudly flying the New Zealand flag on the world stage with Carl Cox Motorsport.
Full Weekend Schedule:
| Date/Time | Category | Event |
| Friday 12:00 PM | GT World Challenge Australia | Free Practice 1 |
| Friday 1:30 PM | GT4 Australia | Free Practice 1 |
| Friday 3:05 PM | GT World Challenge Australia | Free Practice 2 |
| Friday 4:45 PM | GT4 Australia | Pre Qualifying |
| Friday 5:40 PM | World WCR | Free Practice |
| Friday 6:25 PM | GT World Challenge Australia | Pre-Qualifying |
| Friday 7:00 PM | Formula 3 | Practice |
| Friday 10:10 PM | World WCR | Superpole |
| Friday 10:30 PM | Formula 1 | Practice |
| Saturday 12:00 AM | Formula 3 | Qualifying |
| Saturday 2:30 AM | Formula 1 | Sprint Qualifying |
| Saturday 3:00 AM | Formula E | Free Practice 1 |
| Saturday 5:05 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Practice |
| Saturday 8:00 AM | Indy NXT | Practice 1 |
| Saturday 9:00 AM | IndyCar | Practice 1 |
| Saturday 10:30 AM | Indy NXT | Practice 2 |
| Saturday 11:50 AM | GT4 Australia | Qualifying 1 |
| Saturday 1:15 PM | GT World Challenge Australia | Qualifying 1 |
| Saturday 1:40 PM | GT World Challenge Australia | Qualifying 2 |
| Saturday 3:20 PM | GT4 Australia | Race 1 |
| Saturday 5:10 PM | GT World Challenge Australia | Race 1 |
| Saturday 7:15 PM | Formula 3 | Sprint Race |
| Saturday 8:05 PM | World WCR | Race 1 |
| Saturday 9:00 PM | Formula E | Free Practice 2 |
| Saturday 10:00 PM | Formula 1 | Sprint Race |
| Saturday 11:20 PM | Formula E | Qualifying 1 |
| Sunday 2:00 AM | Formula 1 | Qualifying |
| Sunday 3:30 AM | IndyCar | Practice 2 |
| Sunday 4:05 AM | Formula E | Race (Round 15) |
| Sunday 5:00 AM | Indy NXT | Qualifying |
| Sunday 6:30 AM | IndyCar | Qualifying |
| Sunday 6:35 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Qualifying |
| Sunday 8:30 AM | Indy NXT | Race 1 |
| Sunday 1:30 PM | GT4 Australia | Race 2 |
| Sunday 4:05 PM | GT World Challenge Australia | Race 2 |
| Sunday 6:30 PM | Formula 3 | Feature Race |
| Sunday 8:05 PM | World WCR | Race 2 |
| Sunday 9:00 PM | Formula E | Free Practice 3 |
| Sunday 11:20 PM | Formula E | Qualifying 2 |
| Monday 1:00 AM | Formula 1 | Grand Prix |
| Monday 4:00 AM | IndyCar | Warm Up |
| Monday 4:05 AM | Formula E | Race (Round 16) |
| Monday 5:00 AM | Indy NXT | Race 2 |
| Monday 6:00 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Race |
| Monday 7:00 AM | IndyCar | Race |
| Wednesday 10:00 AM | US Legend Car Series | Racing Begins |
Header Image: Sean Gardner/Getty Images
