KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 9-13 OCTOBER WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
From Mount Panorama to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and the bright lights of Las Vegas, Kiwi drivers are set for one of the biggest weekends of the year across global motorsport.
At Mount Panorama, all eyes will be on the Bathurst 1000, Australia’s most iconic endurance race.
A strong contingent of New Zealand drivers will tackle the mountain, led by Ryan Wood and Chaz Mostert’s Kiwi co-driver Fabian Coulthard in the Walkinshaw Andretti United camp, as well as Andre Heimgartner and Jaxon Evans with Brad Jones Racing, Richie Stanaway for PremiAir Racing, and Matt Payne for Grove Racing. Each brings a mix of youth, experience, and Bathurst ambition to the grid in what promises to be an epic edition of the Great Race.
Supporting the main event, Ayrton Hodson returns to Super2 action with Anderson Motorsport, continuing his rookie campaign in Round 5 of the series.
Also on the Mountain, Ben Stewart resumes his Toyota GR Cup Australia campaign with 99 Motorsport, joined this weekend by Chris White Jr as a guest driver.
Bathurst’s packed support card also includes an impressive Kiwi contingent in the Touring Car Masters Series – Angus Fogg, Tristan Teki, Sandra Eden, Janine Wallace, Gavin McLaughlin, Rod Hayman, Rob Lewis, Hamish Frew, Tony Quinn, Greg Cuttance, Bruce Tinnelly, Grant Rivers, Tony Galbraith, Mike Wallace and Greg Donaldson who are all competing at the iconic circuit this weekend in the 34-car field.
Kiwi duo Marco Giltrap and Clay Osborne are also at Mount Panorama this weekend in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Series , both eager to make their mark on the legendary circuit.
Across the Pacific, the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta plays host to two significant events.
In Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Ryan Yardley (Topp Racing) and Madeline Stewart (JDX Racing) line up for the season’s penultimate round.
Meanwhile, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship concludes with the prestigious Petit Le Mans, featuring a trio of Kiwi stars: Scott Dixon (Acura Meyer Shank Racing) and Earl Bamber (Cadillac Whelen Racing) in the top-tier GTP class, and Hunter McElrea (TDS Racing) in LMP2, all chasing glory in the ten-hour endurance classic.
And in the United States, fresh from his NASCAR Cup Series victory at the Charlotte Roval, Shane van Gisbergen returns for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
From Bathurst’s legendary mountain to the endurance challenge of Road Atlanta and the intensity of Las Vegas, Kiwi drivers are set to light up three continents in one thrilling weekend of motorsport.
Check out our detailed weekend preview below for everything you need to know, including session times, how to watch, and who’s racing where. ⬇️
Ryan Wood, Matt Payne, Andre Heimgartner, Jaxon Evans, Richie Stanaway & Fabian Coulthard | Supercars
- Where? Mount Panorama, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Thursday 3:20 PM
- Practice 2: Thursday 6:50 PM
- Practice 3: Friday 12:05 PM
- Practice 4: Friday 3:05 PM
- Qualifying: Friday 6:10 PM
- Practice 5: Saturday 12:05 PM
- Practice 6: Saturday 3:10 PM
- Top 10 Shootout: Saturday 7:05 PM
- Warm Up: Sunday 10:30 AM
- Bathurst 1000: Sunday 1:45 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
The stage is set for the 2025 Bathurst 1000, the crown jewel of Australian motorsport, where six New Zealanders will take on Mount Panorama in pursuit of Great Race glory.
Ryan Wood returns for his second Bathurst 1000 start as a full-time Supercars driver with Walkinshaw Andretti United. After making his debut in 2024, the 21-year-old teams up this year with Jayden Ojeda, forming one of the youngest pairings in the field.
Also flying the Walkinshaw flag is fellow Kiwi Fabian Coulthard, who partners Chaz Mostert in the team’s second entry. With Walkinshaw’s proud Bathurst record and strong race pace throughout the season, both cars will be aiming to feature prominently on Sunday.
Andre Heimgartner heads into the weekend with Brad Jones Racing, looking to build on a consistent season alongside co-driver Declan Fraser. He’s joined in the BJR camp by fellow Kiwi and current GT World Challenge Australia leader Jaxon Evans, who teams up with Jack Smith. Between them, Heimgartner and Evans bring a mix of experience and adaptability, giving BJR a well-rounded Kiwi presence at the Mountain.
After his memorable 2023 Bathurst triumph alongside Shane van Gisbergen, Richie Stanaway returns with PremiAir Racing for another shot at glory. Now paired with Nash Morris, Stanaway brings composure and confidence to the Gold Coast-based team as they aim to spring a surprise in their second Great Race campaign.
Matt Payne rounds out the Kiwi contingent, sharing the Grove Racing Mustang with Garth Tander. The 23-year-old has shown impressive pace throughout his second Supercars season, and Bathurst offers another chance to reinforce his reputation as one of the category’s brightest emerging talents.
The 2025 Bathurst 1000 is shaping up to be another unforgettable chapter in the Mount Panorama story. With six New Zealanders in the mix—ranging from rookies to veterans—all eyes will be on whether the Peter Brock Trophy can once again find its way across the Tasman come Sunday afternoon.
Ayrton Hodson | Super2 Series
- Where? Mount Panorama, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Thursday 12:00 PM
- Practice 2: Thursday 4:40 PM
- Qualifying (Race 9): Friday 11:00 AM
- Top Five Shootout: Friday 11:30 AM
- Race 9: Friday 5:15 PM
- Qualifying (Race 10): Saturday 11:05 AM
- Race 10: Saturday 6:05 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Kiwi young gun Ayrton Hodson heads to Mount Panorama this weekend for Round 5 of the 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series, held as part of the Bathurst 1000 event, looking to bounce back from a challenging run of results and turn his raw speed into a strong points haul.
The Anderson Motorsport driver showed promising pace at the previous round at Queensland Raceway, setting the first-ever sub-1:10 lap in Super2 history during practice and briefly holding the unofficial lap record. Despite that early pace, luck wasn’t on his side across the races, with two hard-fought 16th-place finishes not reflecting his potential.
Now, the 20-year-old switches his focus to the Mountain — one of the most daunting and rewarding circuits in Australian motorsport. It’s a venue that demands precision and confidence, qualities Hodson has been steadily developing through his rookie campaign. With the Anderson Motorsport Ford Mustang showing flashes of real speed throughout the season, Bathurst presents the perfect opportunity for the young Kiwi to piece together a consistent, trouble-free weekend.
“The goal is to build on the pace we’ve had and put a full weekend together,” Hodson said ahead of the event.
“Bathurst is a special place and one I’ve been looking forward to all year. We’ve shown what we’re capable of — now it’s about converting that into results.”
With the Super2 field as competitive as ever and the added spectacle of racing on Bathurst’s famous mountain, Hodson will be eager to showcase his pace on one of motorsport’s most challenging stages as he continues his development in the highly competitive feeder series.
Ben Stewart & Chris White Jr | Toyota GR Cup Australia
- Where? Mount Panorama, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Thursday 10:25 AM
- Practice 2: Thursday 2:45 PM
- Qualifying: Friday 9:25 AM
- Race 1: Friday 2:35 PM
- Race 2: Saturday 4:55 PM
- Race 3: Sunday 11:00 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Another two young Kiwis will tackle Mount Panorama this weekend as Ben Stewart and Chris White Jr who will line up as part of the Toyota GR Cup Australia Series, a support category to the Bathurst 1000 and Round 3 of the 2025 series.
For Ben Stewart, it’s a return to the Mountain after making his Bathurst debut in 2023. The 20-year-old Wellington racer has been a consistent performer this season, sitting inside the championship’s top ten heading into the weekend. With experience now on his side, Stewart is aiming to continue his momentum and push for his best results of the year.
Joining him is Chris White Jr, making his debut as a guest driver after winning the Rookie Championship in New Zealand’s GR86 Cup last summer. The 18-year-old Tony Quinn Foundation Ambassador earned the Bathurst drive as part of his prize, and after recent GT4 outings alongside Quinn, he’s eager to test himself on one of motorsport’s most demanding circuits.
“Driving at Bathurst will be quite special,” White Jr said.
“I’ve watched every Bathurst on TV for the last twelve years and done thousands of laps on the SIM. A top ten would be outstanding, and maybe a top five in the reverse grid race if things go our way.”
The GR Cup field will contest three races across the Bathurst weekend, with both Stewart and White Jr looking to make an impression in front of one of the biggest crowds in Australian motorsport.
Angus Fogg, Tristan Teki, Sandra Eden, Janine Wallace, Gavin McLaughlin, Rod Hayman, Rob Lewis, Hamish Frew, Tony Quinn, Greg Cuttance, Bruce Tinnelly, Grant Rivers, Tony Galbraith, Mike Wallace & Greg Donaldson | Touring Car Masters
- Where? Mount Panorama, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Thursday 9:25 AM
- Qualifying: Thursday 12:55 PM
- Trophy Race: Thursday 6:15 PM
- Race 1: Friday 9:55 AM
- Race 2: Friday 1:15 PM
- Race 3: Saturday 1:20 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
One of New Zealand’s most recognisable muscle cars is back at Mount Panorama this weekend, as Angus Fogg returns to tackle the Touring Car Masters as part of the support programme for the 2025 Bathurst 1000.
Fogg’s iconic Black & Gold 1970 Fastback Mustang has a rich history at Bathurst, including three previous wins and the lap record for muscle cars at the Mountain. After a challenging outing in 2024, which saw a high-speed wheel failure, Fogg is ready to put the drama behind him and focus on a clean, competitive weekend.
This year, Fogg is part of an impressive Kiwi contingent in the TCM series, which also includes Tristan Teki, Sandra Eden, Janine Wallace, Gavin McLaughlin, Rod Hayman, Rob Lewis, Hamish Frew, Tony Quinn, Greg Cuttance, Bruce Tinnelly, Grant Rivers, Tony Galbraith, Mike Wallace, and Greg Donaldson.
Together, they highlight the strength and depth of New Zealand muscle car talent on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
“Any chance you get to race at Bathurst is obviously a bucket-list thing,” Fogg said. “I feel very lucky to be able to go and do it again. Last time out, we reached 300km/h down Conrod Straight — this year we’ll be rev-limited to around 285km/h, but we’re focusing on maximising performance within the rules.”
The 800hp Mustang has been refreshed for the campaign, with updates to its bodywork, livery, and sponsorship support, ensuring it’s ready to take on one of the toughest circuits in the world. With 35-plus muscle cars expected on the grid, Fogg is prepared for a competitive and thrilling weekend alongside his Kiwi counterparts.
Following Bathurst, Fogg and his team will head to Sandown for the next TCM showdown in Melbourne, making this two-event campaign a major highlight of the 2025 season for Kiwi muscle car fans.
Marco Giltrap & Clay Osborne | Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
- Where? Mount Panorama, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Thursday 10:25 AM
- Qualifying: Thursday 5:35 PM
- Race 1: Friday 4:20 PM
- Race 2: Saturday 5:25 PM
- Race 3: Sunday 11:35 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
An additional two Kiwi drivers will line up at Mount Panorama this weekend as part of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, a support category for the Bathurst 1000 and Round 6 of the 2025 championship.
Clay Osborne heads into the weekend 9th in the championship, with Marco Giltrap close behind in 10th, both eager to improve their positions on one of Australia’s most challenging circuits.
Osborne arrives off a weekend at The Bend where he showed strong pace and consistency, making impressive gains through the field in each race before a last-lap collision in Race 3 forced him out, denying him what looked set to be a back-to-back top-10 finish.
Meanwhile, Giltrap fought hard to make progress across the rounds, consistently running in the top 10 and finishing the event 11th overall, setting himself up for another solid campaign.
Mount Panorama presents a unique challenge, with its 6.2km layout combining tight, technical sections with high-speed straights. Both Kiwis will be looking to use their experience and racecraft to navigate the Mountain cleanly while gaining valuable championship points.
Osborne, in particular, will be aiming to bounce back from the late-race incident at The Bend, while Giltrap looks to build on his consistent pace and stay in the top 10 of the standings.
Ryan Yardley & Madeline Stewart | Porsche Carrera Cup North America
- Where? Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Georgia U.S.
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Thursday 3:55 AM
- Practice 2: Thursday 8:30 AM
- Qualifying: Friday 1:35 AM
- Race 1: Friday 10:05 AM
- Race 2: Saturday 3:40 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA TV, IMSA YouTube or Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube
Two Kiwi drivers will be in action this weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for Round 7 of the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America, with Ryan Yardley (Topp Racing) and Madeline Stewart (JDX Racing) aiming to continue their strong seasons.
Yardley heads into the weekend as the championship leader, while Stewart sits 10th, eager to build momentum after a mixed run at Indianapolis.
Yardley comes off a standout Round 6 at Indianapolis, where he secured two second-place podiums, consolidating his championship lead with a display of composure and pace.
Stewart, meanwhile, endured a dramatic start to the weekend with a Race 1 retirement following contact but bounced back in Race 2 to claim a top-10 finish, showcasing her resilience and speed in the Tatuus-spec Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars.
Road Atlanta’s 2.54-mile circuit, with its fast corners, elevation changes, and technical infield section, presents a new challenge for the Kiwi duo.
Yardley will be looking to translate his consistency and podium form into a strong points haul, aiming to extend his championship advantage, while Stewart will be hoping to carry forward her recovery from Indianapolis to climb back up the standings.
Earl Bamber, Hunter McElrea & Scott Dixon | IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
- Where? Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Georgia U.S.
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 3:40 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 8:15 AM
- Practice 3: Friday 12:30 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 8:20 AM
- Race: Sunday 5:10 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA TV, IMSA YouTube
New Zealand drivers will once again be in the spotlight as the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship concludes with the Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta this weekend.
The Kiwi contingent includes Scott Dixon (Acura Meyer Shank Racing, GTP), Hunter McElrea (TDS Racing, LMP2), and Earl Bamber (Cadillac Whelen Racing, GTP), all aiming to finish the season on a high note in one of North America’s most prestigious endurance races.
For Earl Bamber and Hunter McElrea, confidence will be high after a standout performance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Bamber helped guide Cadillac to an outright win in the Battle on the Bricks, while McElrea secured back-to-back LMP2 victories for TDS Racing. Bamber’s triumph marked a long-awaited return to the top step with Cadillac, while McElrea’s win cemented his reputation as one of the sport’s rising endurance stars.
➡️Indianapolis Motor Speedway Recap
Scott Dixon, meanwhile, returns to IMSA action at Road Atlanta after competing only in the season-opening rounds at Daytona and Sebring prior to the IndyCar season. Dixon joins the Meyer Shank Acura effort in the GTP class, bringing his immense experience and calm under pressure to one of the most demanding endurance events of the year.
Petit Le Mans features a grueling 10-hour race on Road Atlanta’s 2.54-mile, 12-turn layout, combining high-speed sections with technical corners and challenging elevation changes. With multiple classes running simultaneously, clean traffic management, strategy, and flawless pit stops will be crucial.
All three Kiwis will be looking to leverage their experience and recent form to achieve strong results in a competitive field.
Shane Van Gisbergen | NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada U.S.
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Sunday 9:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 10:40 AM
- Race: Monday 10:30 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Fresh off a sensational victory at the Charlotte Roval, Kiwi NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane Van Gisbergen now turns his attention to the high-speed oval of Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.
Last weekend at Charlotte, Van Gisbergen delivered another commanding road course performance in his rookie season. Starting alongside Tyler Reddick on the front row, SVG quickly seized the lead and, despite tyre issues and intense wheel-to-wheel battles with Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, held firm to take the checkered flag 15.1 seconds clear.
Now, the Kiwi heads to Las Vegas, a 1.5-mile D-shaped oval that presents a completely different challenge.
With high speeds, tight racing lines, and the unique demands of track position and pit strategy, Van Gisbergen will need to adapt from the precision of road courses to the intensity of a fast, banked oval. After proving his versatility in just his first full Cup Series season, the Las Vegas race offers another opportunity to build his momentum on ovals.
All eyes will be on Van Gisbergen as he aims to follow up his breakthrough Roval win with another strong performance in the desert under the lights of Las Vegas.
Header Image: Penrite Racing
