KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 19 SEPTEMBER – 22 SEPTEMBER WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
From Baku’s concrete canyons to Indianapolis’ Brickyard, the bullring of New Hampshire to the rally roads of Portugal, Kiwi racers are once again spread far and wide for a weekend packed with international motorsport.
In the United States, Shane van Gisbergen returns to NASCAR Cup Series Playoff action at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Nicknamed the “Magic Mile,” the flat one-mile oval is a world away from his Supercars roots, but SVG will be looking to conjure up a strong run to keep his postseason dream alive.
Over in Formula 1, Liam Lawson heads to the streets of Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Baku City Circuit is one of the calendar’s most unpredictable venues, with long straights, tight castle-section walls, and plenty of opportunities for drama, an ideal stage for Lawson to continue his rookie campaign with Racing Bulls.
Indianapolis hosts a Kiwi triple-header, with three major categories all in action at the Speedway’s road course.
In Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Ryan Yardley and Madeline Stewart resume their season campaigns, both eyeing strong results in the hotly contested one-make series.
The IMSA SportsCar Championship runs its headline Battle on the Bricks, where Earl Bamber leads Cadillac Whelen’s GTP entry and Hunter McElrea fights for class honours in LMP2 with TDS Racing.
Adding to the Brickyard presence, Will Bamber returns to Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America duty, looking to push his title challenge further in the competitive Pro class.
Further south in Las Vegas, teenage motocross star Cole Davies chases glory in the SuperMotocross World Championship Final at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Having impressed in the playoffs and sitting 10th in the SMX 250 championship standings, the Yamaha rider now faces the ultimate showdown under the Nevada lights.
Across the Atlantic, young Kiwi Zack Scoular takes on Eurocup-3 at Jerez in Spain, continuing his European single-seater apprenticeship on one of the continent’s most historic circuits.
Meanwhile in Portugal, Bryn Jones, co-driven by fellow Kiwi Sean Lockyear, tackles the Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín, mixing it with the best of the Portuguese Rally Championship field.
From the streets of Baku and the Brickyard of Indy to oval showdowns, motocross finals, and European rally stages, Kiwis are once again in the thick of the action on another globe-spanning motorsport 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. ⬇️
Shane Van Gisbergen | NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? New Hampshire Motor Speedway, U.S.
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Sunday 7:00 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 8:10 AM
- Race: Monday 6:00 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Shane van Gisbergen’s first NASCAR Cup Series playoff campaign came to an end at Bristol Motor Speedway, the New Zealander enduring a long and difficult Saturday night that confirmed his elimination from the Round of 16.
Starting 28th on the grid, van Gisbergen quickly found himself on the back foot. His tyres fell away within the opening laps, forcing an unscheduled stop that dropped him multiple laps down before the race had even settled into a rhythm.
To make matters worse, a failure of his cool suit left him battling extreme cockpit heat, adding another layer of difficulty to an already punishing evening.
The Kiwis’ night only grew tougher from there. He was spun on several occasions, first by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., then later by William Byron and Ty Dillon, while wrestling a car that struggled to turn through Bristol’s tight concrete corners.
Despite repeated adjustments from the Trackhouse Racing crew, the handling never came back to him, and his race became one of survival rather than recovery.
After 500 laps, van Gisbergen finally saw the chequered flag, several laps adrift of the leaders. It was enough to end his playoff hopes, joining Josh Berry, Alex Bowman and Austin Dillon among those knocked out of contention.
➡️ Bristol Motor Speedway Recap
Though disappointed, the 35-year-old remained pragmatic. His debut season was always about learning NASCAR’s unique circuits and race craft, with the longer-term focus firmly on 2026.
With the pressure of the playoffs now lifted, van Gisbergen and his team are looking to use the remainder of the year to gain valuable oval experience and continue building for the future.
Liam Lawson | Formula 1
- Where? Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 8:30 PM
- Practice 2: Saturday 12:00 AM
- Practice 3: Saturday 8:30 PM
- Qualifying: Sunday 12:00 AM
- Grand Prix: Sunday 11:00 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Liam Lawson returns to Formula 1 action this weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, aiming to bounce back from a gruelling Italian Grand Prix that tested both car and driver to the limit.
At Monza, Lawson’s Saturday was undone by fine margins. His final qualifying lap showed promise until a mistake at Lesmo 2 saw him run wide, the time was deleted for track limits. The Kiwi was left stranded in 19th, less than half a second from progressing to Q2.
Sunday’s race proved no easier. Opting for an early stop in what became the fastest race in F1 history, Lawson found himself adrift of the pack and locked in a difficult afternoon.
He battled hard with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, even trading contact on two occasions, but could do no better than 14th at the flag. It was a bruising weekend that left Racing Bulls empty-handed despite Isack Hadjar salvaging a point in tenth after starting from pit lane.
Now, the 23-year-old shifts focus to Baku’s demanding street circuit, a track known for its long straights, tight castle-section walls and unpredictable races.
For Lawson, it represents another chance to put lessons learned into practice and chase a stronger result as the season heads into its final stretch.
Ryan Yardley & Madeline Stewart | Porsche Carrera Cup North America
- Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway, U.S.
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 2:50 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 6:20 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 1:35 AM
- Race 1: Saturday 7:00 AM
- Race 2: Sunday 2:45 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA TV, IMSA YouTube or Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube
Kiwi duo Ryan Yardley and Madeline Stewart are back on track this weekend as the Porsche Carrera Cup North America resumes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, six weeks on from the last Round at Road America.
For Yardley, Road America marked another strong step in his championship campaign. The Topp Racing driver delivered back-to-back podium finishes, third in Race 1 and second in Race 2, tightening the title fight to just two points at the halfway stage of the season.
His consistency has been a hallmark of 2025, and with momentum on his side, Yardley arrives at Indy firmly in the mix for the championship lead.
Stewart’s Road America weekend was more challenging, but the JDX Racing driver continued to show determination in the midfield battles. She made up ground in Race 1 to finish 14th, before fighting through another competitive pack to take 15th in Race 2.
➡️ Race 1 Road America Recap
➡️ Race 2 Road America Recap
With every outing offering valuable experience, Stewart will be looking to build on those performances at one of the most famous circuits on the calendar.
Earl Bamber & Hunter McElrea | IMSA SportsCar Championship
- Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway, U.S.
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 3:15 AM
- Practice 2: Sunday 12:55 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 7:15 AM
- Race: Monday 3:40 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA TV, IMSA YouTube
Kiwi endurance ace Earl Bamber returns to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship grid this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, rejoining the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R after last competing at Road America.
There, Bamber and teammate Jack Aitken fought through a chaotic race packed with cautions to bring the car home in fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium.
Having also suffered heartbreak earlier in the season at Watkins Glen with a late fuel stop denying victory, Bamber is hungry to convert Cadillac’s speed into silverware at the Brickyard.
Hunter McElrea is also back in IMSA action at Indy, returning to the LMP2 field with TDS Racing.
The young Kiwi last raced at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Round 8, where he and co-driver Steven Thomas showed front-running pace before a controversial penalty cruelly stripped them of a podium.
➡️Canadian Tire Motorsport Park LMP2 Recap
McElrea’s charge from deep in the LMP2 pack to a provisional third-place finish showcased his determination, and with unfinished business, he’ll be out to make amends as he takes on one of America’s most iconic venues.
Will Bamber | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America
- Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway, U.S.
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 3:15 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 7:15 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 2:20 AM
- Race 1: Saturday 8:00 AM
- Race 2: Sunday 9:10 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA Official Youtube or IMSA TV
Kiwi driver Will Bamber returns to the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America grid this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Round 5, the penultimate round of the 2025 season.
After a six-week break following Round 4 at Road America, Bamber heads into the Brickyard with momentum after a strong double-second finish alongside co-driver Elias De La Torre.
At Road America, Bamber and De La Torre had aimed to continue their championship-winning form from Watkins Glen. Starting near the front in both races, the pair held off challenges from Pro-Am competitors and navigated a chaotic track littered with off-track excursions and incidents to claim consecutive runner-up finishes.
While they weren’t able to add another victory to their record, the consistent points haul kept them firmly in the title hunt as the season approaches its final rounds.
Indianapolis, with its combination of high-speed straights and technical corners, presents another challenge for the Kiwi driver. Bamber will be looking to convert his qualifying pace into race-winning form, maintain consistency, and extend his championship challenge heading into the final round.
Cole Davies | SuperMotocross World Championship
- Where? Las Vegas Motor Speedway, U.S.
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Saturday 8:15 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 8:20 AM
- 250 Wildcard Race: Sunday 11:30 AM
- 250 Moto 1: Sunday 2:00 PM
- 250 Moto 2: Sunday 3:50 PM
- How to Watch? Super Motocross Video Pass
Kiwi motocross star Cole Davies heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for the SuperMotocross (SMX) Final, following a challenging Round 2 of the playoffs at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.
Davies’ St. Louis outing offered mixed results.
He qualified seventh overall, showing the speed was there, but race day proved difficult on a track that was tough to pass on.
In Moto 1, he battled in the top five early but ultimately slipped to seventh, while Moto 2 saw him tip over in the sand section, losing several positions and finishing 11th.
Overall, he ended the weekend 11th, a result that didn’t match his ambitions but highlighted areas to refine ahead of the season’s final showdown.
Now the focus turns to Vegas, where Davies will look to regroup and put all his speed and experience to work in the last round of the year.
With the SMX championship on the line and sitting 10th in the championship standings, the Kiwi rider is aiming to finish the season on a high note and cap off his playoff campaign with a strong performance at one of the sport’s marquee venues.
Zack Scoular | Eurocup-3
- Where? Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Spain
- NZ Times:
- Test Session 1: Friday 7:00 PM
- Test Session 2: Saturday 12:10 AM
- Practice: Saturday 8:30 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 10:55 PM
- Race 1: Sunday 2:05 AM
- Qualifying 2: Sunday 7:30 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 11:30 PM
- How to Watch? YouTube (Races only)
Kiwi driver Zack Scoular heads to Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto in Spain this weekend for Round 7 of the 2025 Eurocup-3 season, determined to turn around a disappointing outing at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium two weeks ago.
The 17-year-old Palou Motorsport driver faced a weekend of mechanical issues in Belgium, including electrical fires and engine cut-outs, which limited his preparation and forced a DNF in Race 2.
Despite the setbacks, Scoular showed glimpses of promise, climbing into the top 20 in tricky wet conditions in Race 1 and gaining valuable experience on one of Europe’s most demanding circuits.
Jerez presents a fresh opportunity for Scoular to build momentum as the season nears its conclusion.
With just two rounds remaining, the Kiwi driver will be focused on maximising track time, refining his setup, and pushing for his first Eurocup-3 points as he continues to develop in his rookie season.
Bryn Jones & Sean Lockyear | Portuguese Rally Championship: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín
- Where? Chaves-Verín Eurocity, between North Portugal and Spain
- NZ Times:
- SS1: Saturday 3:40 AM
- SS2: Saturday 4:00 AM
- SS3: Saturday 4:45 AM
- SS4: Saturday 8:00 AM
- SS5: Saturday 9:20 PM
- SS6: Saturday 10:15 PM
- SS7: Saturday 11:00 PM
- SS8: Sunday 2:00 AM
- SS9: Sunday 2:50 AM
- SS10: Sunday 3:40 AM
- How to Watch? SS4 Livestream HERE
- Stage Results, Maps Timing etc HERE
Kiwi rally driver Bryn Jones and co-driver Sean Lockyear are set to take on their first international rally this weekend at the Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín in Portugal, part of the 2025 Portuguese Rally Championship.
The opportunity comes through the Peugeot Rally Cup Ibérica, with Jones piloting a Peugeot 208 Rally4 prepared by respected European motorsport outfit PT Racing.
For the 23-year-old, who has been a regular in the New Zealand Rally Championship since 2021, it marks the realisation of a long-time dream.
Jones heads into the event off the back of valuable preparation on home soil, having made his tarmac rally debut at the Taranaki Tarmac Rally in July, where he impressed with fifth overall and first in class.
That outing was a key step in adapting his gravel-based experience to the sealed-surface demands of Portugal.
“This is such an awesome opportunity to finally compete in Europe – something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid,” said Jones ahead of the rally.
While his main focus remains the NZRC 2WD Championship, the Portugal start represents an exciting step into international competition and a chance to test himself against Europe’s rising stars.
With Lockyear alongside and the backing of PT Racing, the duo will be aiming to showcase their potential on unfamiliar roads as they continue to build their careers.
Full Weekend Schedule:
| Date/Time | Category | Event |
| Friday 2:50 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Practice 1 |
| Friday 3:15 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Practice 1 |
| Friday 6:20 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Practice 2 |
| Friday 7:15 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Practice 2 |
| Friday 7:00 PM | Eurocup-3 | Test Session 1 |
| Friday 8:30 PM | Formula 1 | Practice 1 |
| Saturday 12:00 AM | Formula 1 | Practice 2 |
| Saturday 12:10 AM | Eurocup-3 | Test Session 2 |
| Saturday 1:35 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Qualifying |
| Saturday 2:20 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Qualifying |
| Saturday 3:15 AM | IMSA SportsCar Championship | Practice 1 |
| Saturday 3:40 AM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS1 |
| Saturday 4:00 AM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS2 |
| Saturday 4:45 AM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS3 |
| Saturday 7:00 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Race 1 |
| Saturday 8:00 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Race 1 |
| Saturday 8:00 AM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS4 |
| Saturday 8:15 AM | SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) | Practice |
| Saturday 8:30 PM | Eurocup-3 | Practice |
| Saturday 8:30 PM | Formula 1 | Practice 3 |
| Saturday 9:20 PM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS5 |
| Saturday 10:15 PM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS6 |
| Saturday 10:55 PM | Eurocup-3 | Qualifying 1 |
| Saturday 11:00 PM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS7 |
| Sunday 12:00 AM | Formula 1 | Qualifying |
| Sunday 12:55 AM | IMSA SportsCar Championship | Practice 2 |
| Sunday 2:00 AM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS8 |
| Sunday 2:05 AM | Eurocup-3 | Race 1 |
| Sunday 2:45 AM | Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Race 2 |
| Sunday 2:50 AM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS9 |
| Sunday 3:40 AM | Portugal Rally: Rali da Água – Eurocidade Chaves Verín | SS10 |
| Sunday 7:00 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Practice |
| Sunday 7:15 AM | IMSA SportsCar Championship | Qualifying |
| Sunday 8:10 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Qualifying |
| Sunday 8:20 AM | SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) | Qualifying |
| Sunday 9:10 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America | Race 2 |
| Sunday 11:30 AM | SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) | 250 Wildcard Race |
| Sunday 2:00 PM | SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) | 250 Moto 1 |
| Sunday 3:50 PM | SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) | 250 Moto 2 |
| Sunday 7:30 PM | Eurocup-3 | Qualifying 2 |
| Sunday 11:00 PM | Formula 1 | Grand Prix |
| Sunday 11:30 PM | Eurocup-3 | Race 2 |
| Monday 3:40 AM | IMSA SportsCar Championship | Race |
| Monday 6:00 AM | NASCAR Cup Series | Race |
Header Image: Joe Portlock/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool
