KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 1-4 AUGUST WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
From the heat of the Hungarian summer to the blazing speed of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Kiwi drivers are back in action this weekend, competing across nine different categories around the globe.
A total of 12 New Zealanders will take on some of motorsport’s biggest stages, racing on high-speed road courses, twisting street circuits, ovals, and open salt flats.
Liam Lawson returns to the Formula 1 grid for Round 14 of the World Championship at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The technical, twisty layout will test both tyre management and precision as Lawson continues to make his case on the world’s biggest stage.
In the supporting Formula 3 field, Louis Sharp tackles the penultimate round of his rookie season with Rodin Motorsport, looking to finish strong after a promising run of form.
Back in North America, the picturesque Road America circuit in Wisconsin hosts a triple helping of Kiwi talent.
William Bamber resumes his Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America campaign, while Ryan Yardley and Madeline Stewart suit up for Round 5 of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
In the endurance racing scene, Earl Bamber returns to the IMSA SportsCar Championship, also at Road America this weekend, sharing the No. 31 Cadillac GTP entry with Jack Aitken in a crucial ninth round of the season.
Also Stateside, Shane van Gisbergen takes on Iowa Speedway for Round 23 of the NASCAR Cup Series, continuing his impressive Cup Series rookie campaign with Trackhouse Racing.
Meanwhile, Kiwi co-driver Malcolm Read joins FIA Rally Star driver Max Smart in Rally Finland, contesting both the WRC3 and Junior WRC categories on one of the fastest and most iconic gravel events on the calendar.
Over in Europe, Brendon Leitch heads to Italy for the latest round of the Italian GT Endurance Championship at Imola.
And finally, Bonneville Speedweek returns to the legendary Utah salt flats, where four Kiwis—Reg Cook, Lincoln Harris, David Alexander, and Walter Trevor Randell will chase record-breaking speeds in a mix of cars and motorcycles.
From the precision of F1 to the endurance of IMSA and the raw speed of Bonneville, this weekend captures the full spectrum of Kiwi excellence on the world motorsport stage.
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 – Formula 1
- Where? Hungaroring, Hungary
- 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 continued to impress at the Belgian Grand Prix, scoring eighth place and more valuable championship points in a rain-delayed race at Spa-Francorchamps.
After qualifying ninth with both Racing Bulls cars making Q3, Lawson made a opportunistic pass on teammate Isack Hadjar early in the race after Hadjar made an error and went off track, and capitalised on pit strategy to maintain position in the top ten.
He held off Gabriel Bortoleto in the second half of the race and crossed the line comfortably in eighth, securing four points and moving to 14th in the standings, tied with Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, and just six points behind Hadjar.
➡️ F1 Belgian Grand Prix Recap HERE
Lawson now heads to this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix at the tight and twisty Hungaroring looking to build on that momentum before Formula 1 enters its summer break.
Louis Sharp – Formula 3
- Where? Hungaroring, Hungary
- NZ Times:
- Practice: 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
It was a frustrating weekend for Kiwi Louis Sharp in Belgium, with weather delays, track limit chaos, and a washed-out feature race disrupting Round 8 of the FIA Formula 3 Championship at Spa-Francorchamps.
After qualifying was delayed by over five hours due to fog, Sharp had his first flying lap deleted for exceeding track limits. He recovered to bank a second effort, ultimately lining up 25th for the sprint and 24th overall.
In the Sprint Race, Sharp made early gains but slipped back after mid-race contact and a brief off-track moment, finishing 25th.
The Sunday feature race never got underway due to torrential rain and a series of incidents on the formation lap, forcing officials to abandon the event without awarding points.
➡️ F3 Belgian Recap HERE
Sharp remains 23rd in the Drivers’ Championship with 11 points and will be looking to reset and rebound this weekend at the Hungaroring. In this tight and technical circuit, qualifying is critical, and tyre management can be key.
With just two rounds remaining in the season, Sharp will aim to finish strong and build momentum heading into the off-season.
William Bamber – Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America
- Where? Road America, Wisconsin
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 6:05 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 8:40 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 10:05 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 4:55 AM
- Race 2: Monday 2:25 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA Official Youtube or IMSA TV
After a six-week break, Kiwi driver William Bamber return to action this weekend for Round 4 of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship at Road America in Wisconsin.
Bamber and teammate Elias De La Torre head into the weekend full of confidence after a dominant double victory at Watkins Glen. The pair scored pole position and race wins in both Pro class races, vaulting them into the championship lead and becoming just the third pairing this season to sweep a weekend.
Bamber, racing with TR3 Racing, will now look to extend that momentum on one of North America’s most iconic circuits.
➡️ Watkins Glen Recap HERE
With just three race weekends remaining, the championship is entering a critical phase, one where consistency, speed, and precision will be key for Bamber and De Le Torre.
Ryan Yardley & Madeline Stewart – Porsche Carrera Cup North America
- Where? Road America, Wisconsin
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 7:55 AM
- Practice 2: Saturday 3:00 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 9:20 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 3:55 AM
- Race 2: Monday 3:35 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA TV, IMSA YouTube or Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube
Kiwi racers Ryan Yardley and Madeline Stewart return to the track this weekend as the Porsche Carrera Cup North America Championship resumes at Road America for Round 5 of the season.
Yardley, racing in the Pro class for Topp Racing, heads to Wisconsin sitting second in the championship, just eight points behind leader Riley Dickinson.
The 2024 series rookie continued his impressive form last round at Watkins Glen, where he claimed pole position and followed it up with back-to-back podiums, second in Race 1 and third in Race 2.
That performance came on the heels of his first win of the season at Montréal, cementing the Christchurch driver as a genuine title contender with four rounds to go.
Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi Madeline Stewart (JDX Racing) made steady progress across the Watkins Glen weekend. After qualifying 20th, she improved across the races to record finishes of 19th and 15th place, scoring a point in the second race.
With three points to her name, Stewart sits 24th in the championship and will be aiming to continue her upward trajectory on the fast, flowing Road America circuit.
As the championship enters its back half, Yardley will be chasing the series lead while Stewart looks to build on recent gains in one of the most competitive Carrera Cup fields in North America.
Earl Bamber – IMSA SportsCar Championship
- Where? Road America, Wisconsin
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 7:00 AM
- Practice 2: Sunday 2:05 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 9:40 AM
- Grand Prix: Monday 6:10 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA TV or IMSA YouTube
Kiwi endurance ace Earl Bamber returns to the cockpit of the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R this weekend at Road America, determined to bounce back after a heartbreaking near-win at the previous IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship round at Watkins Glen.
At the Six Hours of The Glen, Bamber had built a commanding lead in the closing stages and appeared to be on course for a memorable victory. But a cruel twist in energy strategy saw him dive into pit lane for a late splash, surrendering the win just as the white flag flew.
The call allowed rival Tom Blomqvist to take the victory, while Bamber and co-drivers Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti were left wondering what might have been.
This weekend’s Round 9 offers the perfect reset. With Road America’s fast straights and heavy braking zones, it’s a track that rewards bold strategy and outright pace, two things the Cadillac has shown in spades all season.
Bamber and the No. 31 crew will be aiming to convert their recent form into results, with just a few races remaining in the 2025 campaign and the GTP championship battle intensifying.
A strong result in Wisconsin could be just the rebound needed as the season enters its final stretch.
Shane Van Gisbergen – NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Iowa Speedway. USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Sunday 5:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:40 AM
- Race: Monday 7:30 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
After a career-best Cup Series qualifying result and a gritty top-20 finish at the Brickyard 400 after battling car issues, Shane van Gisbergen heads to Iowa Speedway riding a wave of confidence and with a new milestone under his belt.
Last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Kiwi impressed by qualifying 11th, his best-ever result on an oval in the Cup Series, and battled through a chaotic 160-lap race to finish 19th, narrowly avoiding late-race carnage.
➡️NASCAR Brickyard 400 Recap HERE
It marked another step forward in SVG’s adaptation to NASCAR’s top tier.
Between Indy and Iowa, van Gisbergen added another highlight to his growing US racing résumé: his first oval win in the US Legend Car Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
After starting third in the final round of the Summer Shootout, he took the lead with 14 laps to go and held on under pressure for a breakthrough victory.
Now, with valuable experience and momentum behind him, SVG returns to Cup Series action in the #88 Camaro for Trackhouse Racing at Iowa Speedway, one of NASCAR’s trickiest short tracks.
As he continues to build confidence on ovals, all eyes will be on the Kiwi to see if he can take the next step toward a breakout Cup performance.
Malcolm Read – WRC Rally Finland
- Where? Jyväskylä, Finland
- NZ Times:
- SSS1 Harju 1 (Live TV): Friday 4:05 AM
- SS2 Laukaa 1: Friday 5:03 PM
- SS3 Saarikas 1: Friday 6:03 PM
- SS4 Myhinpää 1: Friday 7:23 PM
- SS5 Ruuhimäki 1: Friday 8:51 PM
- SS6 Laukaa 2: Friday 11:44 PM
- SS7 Saarikas 2: Saturday 12:44 AM
- SS8 Myhinpää 2: Saturday 2:04 AM
- SS9 Ruuhimäki 2 (Live TV): Saturday 3:35 AM
- SSS10 Harju 2: Saturday 4:30 AM
- SS11 Parkkola 1: Saturday 5:01 PM
- SS12 Västilä 1: Saturday 6:42 PM
- SS13 Päijälä 1: Saturday 7:36 PM
- SS14 Leustu 1 (Live TV): Saturday 9:05 PM
- SS15 Parkkola 2: Sunday 12:01 AM
- SS16 Västilä 2: Sunday 1:42 AM
- SS17 Päijälä 2: Sunday 2:36 AM
- SS18 Leustu 2 (Live TV): Sunday 4:05 AM
- How to Watch? Rally.TV
- Live Stage Results HERE
Fresh from a podium-challenging run in the searing heat of the Acropolis Rally, Kiwi co-driver Malcolm Read is set to return to action on the fast-flowing gravel roads of Rally Finland this weekend.
Teaming up again with South African driver Max Smart, the duo will represent the FIA Rally Star programme in both WRC3 and Junior WRC (JWRC) classes behind the wheel of their Ford Fiesta Rally3.
Their most recent outing at the Acropolis saw them finish third in WRC3 and narrowly miss the JWRC podium by just 2.2 seconds, adding to a growing list of strong results after also securing a WRC3 podium at Rally Portugal in their debut together.
➡️ WRC Acropolis Rally Recap HERE
Now, with momentum on their side, Smart and Read head to one of the most iconic and high-speed rallies on the WRC calendar. With massive jumps, blind crests and sweeping corners, Rally Finland is a test of commitment and courage, ideal ground for this promising pairing to continue their charge.
Competing against some of the top young talents in rallying, they’ll be aiming to bank more championship points and challenge for podium honours once again.
Brendon Leitch – Italian GT Endurance Championship
- Where? Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 10:10 PM
- Practice 2: Saturday 2:50 AM
- Practice 3: Saturday 7:00 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 11:20 PM
- Race: Monday 1:30 AM
- How to Watch? Facebook Livestream
Brendon Leitch has made a mid-season shift in his 2025 racing plans, pulling out of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Championship to instead contest the Italian GT Endurance Championship with Ceccato Racing.
The Southland driver will line up this weekend at Imola in Round 3 of the Endurance Cup, sharing a BMW M4 GT3 Evo in the AM class with long-time co-driver Anthony McIntosh.
The pair are entered in Ceccato Racing’s second car (#2) as part of a two-car BMW effort.
The move comes after a turbulent Super Trofeo campaign that began with strong Pro-Am class wins but unravelled at Watkins Glen, where McIntosh was absent for one race and the duo were penalised out of the second. They had been just three points off the championship lead.
For McIntosh, the Italian GT drive continues his global GT3 rise, having already raced the 24 Hours of Daytona and finishing second in class at the 24 Hours of Spa earlier this year.
This weekend marks a fresh chapter for the Kiwi–Australian duo as they take on the 3-hour Imola enduro, where Leitch will be looking to impress in one of Europe’s premier GT championships.
Lincoln Harris, David Alexander, and Walter Rands-Trevor – Bonneville Speedweek
- Where? Bonneville Salt Flats International Raceway
- NZ Times:
- August 2nd – 8th – Full Schedule HERE
- August 2nd – 8th – Full Schedule HERE
- How to Watch? YouTube or LSR Live Website
A trio of Kiwi competitors is set to take on the legendary Bonneville Speedweek from August 2–8 in Utah, USA, as they chase land speed records on the iconic salt flats.
Lincoln Harris of Harris Family Racing will pilot his purpose-built streamliner, while David Alexander and Walter Rands-Trevor—riding for WRT Racing aboard a Kawasaki motorcycle—will also represent New Zealand in the high-speed event.
Between them, the Kiwis will compete across multiple classes and engine categories, aiming for record-breaking runs at one of the world’s most extreme motorsport events. Known for its punishing conditions and the pursuit of ultimate velocity, Bonneville Speedweek attracts hundreds of international entries and remains a mecca for speed enthusiasts.
New Zealand’s presence once again ensures the silver fern will fly on the world’s fastest stage.
Full Weekend Schedule:
| Date/Time | Category | Event |
| Friday 4:05 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SSS1 Harju 1 |
| Friday 6:05 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Practice 1 |
| Friday 7:55 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Practice 1 |
| Friday 8:40 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Practice 2 |
| Friday 5:03 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS2 Laukaa 1 |
| Friday 6:03 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS3 Saarikas 1 |
| Friday 7:23 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS4 Myhinpää 1 |
| Friday 7:55 PM | Formula 3 | Practice |
| Friday 8:51 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS5 Ruuhimäki 1 |
| Friday 10:10 PM | Italian GT Endurance Championship | Practice 1 |
| Friday 11:30 PM | Formula 1 | Practice 1 |
| Friday 11:44 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS6 Laukaa 2 |
| Saturday 12:44 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SS7 Saarikas 2 |
| Saturday 1:00 AM | Formula 3 | Qualifying |
| Saturday 2:04 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SS8 Myhinpää 2 |
| Saturday 2:50 AM | Italian GT Endurance Championship | Practice 2 |
| Saturday 3:00 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Practice 2 |
| Saturday 3:00 AM | Formula 1 | Practice 2 |
| Saturday 3:35 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SS9 Ruuhimäki 2 |
| Saturday 4:30 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SSS10 Harju 2 |
| Saturday 7:00 AM | IMSA SportsCar Championship | Practice 1 |
| Saturday 9:20 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Qualifying |
| Saturday 10:00 AM | Bonneville Speedweek | Racing Begins |
| Saturday 10:05 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Qualifying |
| Saturday 5:01 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS11 Parkkola 1 |
| Saturday 6:42 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS12 Västilä 1 |
| Saturday 7:00 PM | Italian GT Endurance Championship | Practice 3 |
| Saturday 7:36 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS13 Päijälä 1 |
| Saturday 9:05 PM | WRC Rally Finland | SS14 Leustu 1 |
| Saturday 11:20 PM | Italian GT Endurance Championship | Qualifying |
| Sunday 12:01 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SS15 Parkkola 2 |
| Sunday 1:42 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SS16 Västilä 2 |
| Sunday 2:00 AM | Formula 1 | Qualifying |
| Sunday 2:05 AM | IMSA SportsCar Championship | Practice 2 |
| Sunday 2:36 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SS17 Päijälä 2 |
| Sunday 3:55 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Race 1 |
| Sunday 4:05 AM | WRC Rally Finland | SS18 Leustu 2 |
| Sunday 4:55 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Race 1 |
| Sunday 5:30 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Practice |
| Sunday 6:40 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Qualifying |
| Sunday 9:40 AM | IMSA SportsCar Championship | Qualifying |
| Sunday 6:30 PM | Formula 3 | Feature Race |
| Monday 1:00 AM | Formula 1 | Grand Prix |
| Monday 1:30 AM | Italian GT Endurance Championship | Race |
| Monday 2:25 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Race 2 |
| Monday 3:35 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Race 2 |
| Monday 6:10 AM | IMSA SportsCar Championship | Grand Prix |
| Monday 7:30 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Race |
| Friday 8th August 5:00 PM | Bonneville Speedweek | Racing ends. |
Header Image: TR3 Racing
thanks for posting this info
jeff