KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 7 NOVEMBER – 10 NOVEMBER WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
From São Paulo to Sakhir, Misano, Portimão and across the gravel roads of Tasmania, Kiwi drivers are set for another action-packed weekend on the global motorsport stage.
In Formula 1, Liam Lawson locks into the final rounds of his 2025 campaign with Racing Bulls at the Brazilian Grand Prix. The Autódromo José Carlos Pace is a circuit known for drama, strategy swings and unpredictable weather, with the 2024 Grand Prix containing a whirlwind of battles and chaos.
Lawson’s focus will be on building momentum after recent strong outings, mixed with some unlucky incidents, with Interlagos offering a chance to capitalise on opportunities in the midfield battle.
Endurance honours are on the line in Bahrain as the FIA World Endurance Championship season concludes with the 8 Hours of Bahrain. Brendon Hartley returns to action with Toyota Gazoo Racing, aiming to finish the year on a high in the Hypercar title fight.
Meanwhile, Earl Bamber joins Cadillac Hertz Team Jota as the American marque continues its push to challenge the established frontrunners. Both will be in the thick of multi-class traffic and high-stakes strategy as the sun sets over Sakhir.
One of the busiest Kiwis of the weekend will be Brendon Leitch, who tackles the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals at Misano. Competing across the Asia, Europe and World Finals categories with Leipert Motorsport, Leitch will pair with China’s JJ Song for the final round of the Super Trofeo Asia series, while teaming up with Australian Nicolas Stati in Europe.
Chris van der Drift is also lining up on the grid for the Super Trofeo Asia Grand Finale. The three-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Champion will join Team VSR, sharing the car with Todd Kingsford.
Across six races in just a few days, consistency and adaptability will be key as Leitch looks to cap off a standout year in the Lamborghini paddock.
In Moto3, Cormac Buchanan returns for the penultimate round of the 2025 season at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. The undulating Portimão circuit is one of the trickiest on the calendar, rewarding precision and bravery. Buchanan will be looking to convert recent flashes of pace into a strong finish as he continues to grow within the BOE Motorsports/DENSSI Racing setup.
Rally Tasmania brings the curtain down on the 2025 Australian Rally Championship. Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard arrive as championship leaders and aim to close out the title under pressure.
Emma Gilmour, paired with experienced Australian co-driver Ben Searcy, also returns to the ARC fold looking to end the season strongly. Meanwhile, Kiwi co-driver Bella Haggarty will line up alongside Stewart Reid, though their campaign begins with adversity after a testing crash on Thursday left the pairing with work to do before the first stage.
From single-seaters and endurance epics to two-wheeled combat and gravel-stage grit, Kiwi competitors are once again set to leave their mark around the world 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. ⬇️
Liam Lawson | Formula 1
- Where? Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Brazil
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Saturday 3:30 AM
- Sprint Qualifying: Saturday 7:30 AM
- Sprint Race: Sunday 3:00 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 7:00 AM
- Grand Prix: Monday 6:00 AM
- How to Watch? F1TV or Sky Sports
Liam Lawson will look to regroup quickly as Formula 1 heads to Brazil, following a short and disappointing outing at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Starting 15th, the Racing Bulls driver was caught up in a first-lap clash with Carlos Sainz that damaged his front wing. Despite pitting for repairs, further damage forced Lawson to retire on Lap 8, marking his fifth DNF of the season.
The result came at a critical moment in the race for a 2026 Red Bull seat. Lawson, Isack Hadjar, and Yuki Tsunoda all left Mexico without points, meaning their tight standings battle remains unchanged: Hadjar 39, Lawson 30, Tsunoda 28 with four rounds to go.
Formula 1 now moves to São Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend. Interlagos is a circuit where momentum can swing quickly, offering Lawson a chance to reset and return to points-scoring form.
Four races remain. Brazil is an important one.
Brendon Hartley & Earl Bamber | FIA World Endurance Championship
- Where? Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir.
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Thursday 10:15 PM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 3:00 AM
- Free Practice 3: Friday 10:00 PM
- Qualifying (Hypercar): Saturday 2:20 AM
- Hyperpole: Saturday 3:00 AM
- Race: Sunday 12:00 AM
- How to Watch? FIA WEC TV
Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley return to FIA World Endurance Championship action this weekend for the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain, both looking to bounce back after a difficult outing last time out in Japan.
At Fuji, neither Kiwi had the race they were hoping for. Bamber brought the #38 Cadillac home in 13th, one lap down, while Hartley and the #8 Toyota crew finished 16th after losing time early and never recovering. It was a frustrating result for both camps as the Hypercar field continues to grow more competitive race by race.
With one round left, Bamber and co-drivers Jenson Button and Sébastien Bourdais sit eighth in the championship on 46 points. Hartley, alongside Ryo Hirakawa and Sébastien Buemi, holds 12th on 39 points.
The Bahrain International Circuit is a familiar venue for both squads and often produces strategic races shaped by tyre management and evolving track conditions from day into night. It is also the final chance this season to build momentum heading into the 2026 campaign.
For both Kiwis, the goal is clear: finish the year on a stronger note and remind the field they remain contenders in the Hypercar fight.
Brendon Leitch & Chris Van Der Drift | Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals
- Where? Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Italy
- NZ Times:
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Race 1: Friday 11:25 PM
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Race 2: Saturday 3:00 AM
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe Race 1: Friday 3:10 AM
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe Race 2: Saturday 12:00 AM
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals Qualifying: Sunday 12:20 AM
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals Race 1: Sunday 4:20 AM
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals Race 2: Monday 2:20 AM
- How to Watch? Lamborghini Squadra Corse YouTube
Brendon Leitch heads to Misano this week for one of the busiest weekends of his season, taking on both the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia and Europe finales before the World Finals.
The Kiwi arrives in Italy off the back of a mixed penultimate round at Sepang. In Race 1, Leitch and co-driver JJ Song recovered strongly to climb through the field after a difficult qualifying, while Race 2 saw Leitch make a brilliant start to lead early before the safety car reset the pack and Song was shuffled back late. The pace was evident, even if the final results didn’t fully reflect the performance shown.
Now, Leitch doubles his workload. He closes out the Asia campaign again with Song in the Pro-Am class, while also pairing with 16-year-old Australian Nicolas Stati for the Europe finale, both programs run by Leipert Motorsport. Across both series and the Lamborghini World Finals, Leitch is set for six races in just four days.
He won’t be the only Kiwi on the grid. Chris van der Drift is also in action at Misano, lining up with Team VSR for the Super Trofeo Asia Grand Finale. The three-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion will share driving duties with Todd Kingsford, with the duo aiming to close out their season on a strong note in the Pro-Am ranks.
Leitch returns to the World Finals as last year’s Pro-Am champion and has traditionally excelled in Misano’s intense finals format. His focus will be on guiding his co-drivers, executing mistake-free stints, and converting the proven pace into silverware.
It’s a demanding schedule—but one Leitch has shown time and again he can thrive under.
Cormac Buchanan | Moto3
- Where? Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 10:00 PM
- Practice: Saturday 2:15 AM
- Free Practice 2: Saturday 9:40 PM
- Qualifying 1: Sunday 1:45 AM
- Qualifying 2: Sunday 2:10 AM
- Grand Prix: Monday 3:30 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Cormac Buchanan heads to Portugal this weekend looking to reset and rebuild after a challenging and emotional Malaysian Grand Prix.
Sepang proved difficult on multiple levels. A heavy crash in qualifying left Buchanan starting from 24th, and his race ended early after a front-end slide at Turn 4 on lap four. The result was already frustrating, though events before the race put everything into perspective.
The frightening collision involving Noah Dettwiler and world champion Jose Antonio Rueda on the sighting lap paused the paddock and left riders and teams shaken. Buchanan said his thoughts remain with both riders and their families.
The weekend marked a sharp contrast to his strong run at Phillip Island, where he claimed 11th and showed the pace he expects from himself. His focus now returns to finding that rhythm again.
Buchanan has already returned to Europe to prepare for the Grand Prix of Portugal. The Algarve circuit rewards commitment and flow, traits that play to his strengths when he is confident in the bike. The goal is simple: reset, ride clean, and rebuild momentum.
A tough weekend does not define a season. Portugal is a fresh chance to show the progress he has made this year.
Hayden Paddon, John Kennard, Bella Haggarty & Emma Gilmour | Australian Rally Championship
- Where? Tasmania, Australia
- NZ Times:
- SS1 Oonah 1: Saturday 11:13 AM
- SS2 Meunna 1: Saturday 12:00 PM
- SS3 Preolenna 1: Saturday 12:35 AM
- SS4: Blackfish 1: Saturday 1:17 PM
- SS5: Oonah 2: Saturday 4:05 PM
- SS6 Meunna 2: Saturday 4:52 PM
- SS7 Preolenna 2: Saturday 5:27 PM
- SS8 Blackfish 2: Saturday 6:09 PM
- SS9: Newhaven 1: Sunday 10:27 AM
- SS10 Mawbanna 1: Sunday 11:05 AM
- SS11 Blackfish Reverse 1: Sunday 12:46 PM
- SS12: Newhaven 2: Sunday 3:31 PM
- SS13: Mawbanna 2: Sunday 4:09 PM
- SS14: Blackfish Reverse 2: Sunday 6:23 PM
- How to Watch? Youtube
- Live Timing/Results: Click HERE
Hayden Paddon and John Kennard head into the final round of the 2025 Australian Rally Championship with the title firmly within reach after another composed and controlled performance at the Adelaide Hills Rally last time out.
Their Heat 2 victory sealed the overall event win and maintained their strong grip on the championship lead, but the job is not finished yet.
Paddon and Kennard were in commanding form on Sunday in South Australia, winning four consecutive stages in the morning to break open the rally against Lewis Bates and Anthony McLoughlin.
The Toyota crew applied pressure throughout the day, and although Paddon’s grip on Heat 2 never looked under serious threat, the gap remained close enough to ensure the title fight rolls on to Tasmania.
A tight battle behind them saw Alex Rullo and Steve Glenney challenge Bates and McLoughlin for second overall, while Clayton Hoy and Erin Kelly were one of the standout performers of the weekend as they closed in on the WOLF Production Cup title with a convincing Heat 2 win and a round-top-five finish.
That sets the stage for Rally Tasmania, where Paddon and Kennard will look to execute a clean, mistake-free weekend to secure the championship for Hyundai.
Meanwhile, two more Kiwi competitors add strong New Zealand representation to the field in Burnie.
Bella Haggarty returns alongside Australian driver Stewart Reid, though the pair face a tough challenge after a crash during pre-event testing on Thursday. The incident left the team with considerable overnight repair work and a disrupted lead-in to the rally, meaning their weekend is now focused on rebuilding momentum rather than outright pace.
There is excitement too for Emma Gilmour, who makes her first ARC appearance of the season and her debut in the championship alongside experienced co-driver Ben Searcy.
Gilmour brings pedigree, professionalism and proven speed on gravel, and Rally Tasmania offers stages that should suit her smooth, tidy driving style. While a podium push may depend on how quickly she adapts to car and conditions, she is a genuine threat for strong stage results across the weekend.
Rally Tasmania’s tight forest roads, unpredictable weather and changing grip levels routinely make it one of the trickiest rounds of the year. This time, the stakes are raised even higher.
Full Weekend Schedule:
| Date/Time | Category | Event |
| Thursday 10:15 PM | FIA World Endurance Championship | Free Practice 1 |
| Friday 3:00 AM | FIA World Endurance Championship | Free Practice 2 |
| Friday 3:10 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe | Race 1 |
| Friday 10:00 PM | Moto3 | Free Practice 1 |
| Friday 10:00 PM | FIA World Endurance Championship | Free Practice 3 |
| Friday 11:25 PM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia | Race 1 |
| Saturday 12:00 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe | Race 2 |
| Saturday 2:15 AM | Moto3 | Practice |
| Saturday 2:20 AM | FIA World Endurance Championship | Qualifying (Hypercar) |
| Saturday 3:00 AM | FIA World Endurance Championship | Hyperpole |
| Saturday 3:00 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia | Race 2 |
| Saturday 3:30 AM | Formula 1 | Practice |
| Saturday 7:30 AM | Formula 1 | Sprint Qualifying |
| Saturday 11:13 AM | Australian Rally Championship | SS1 Oonah 1 |
| Saturday 12:00 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS2 Meunna 1 |
| Saturday 12:35 AM | Australian Rally Championship | SS3 Preolenna 1 |
| Saturday 1:17 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS4: Blackfish 1 |
| Saturday 4:05 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS5: Oonah 2 |
| Saturday 4:52 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS6 Meunna 2 |
| Saturday 5:27 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS7 Preolenna 2 |
| Saturday 6:09 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS8 Blackfish 2 |
| Saturday 9:40 PM | Moto3 | Free Practice 2 |
| Sunday 12:00 AM | FIA World Endurance Championship | Race |
| Sunday 12:20 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals | Qualifying |
| Sunday 1:45 AM | Moto3 | Qualifying 1 |
| Sunday 2:10 AM | Moto3 | Qualifying 2 |
| Sunday 3:00 AM | Formula 1 | Sprint Race |
| Sunday 4:20 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals | Race 1 |
| Sunday 7:00 AM | Formula 1 | Qualifying |
| Sunday 10:27 AM | Australian Rally Championship | SS9: Newhaven 1 |
| Sunday 11:05 AM | Australian Rally Championship | SS10 Mawbanna 1 |
| Sunday 12:46 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS11 Blackfish Reverse 1 |
| Sunday 3:31 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS12: Newhaven 2 |
| Sunday 4:09 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS13: Mawbanna 2 |
| Sunday 6:23 PM | Australian Rally Championship | SS14: Blackfish Reverse 2 |
| Monday 2:20 AM | Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals | Race 2 |
| Monday 3:30 AM | Moto3 | Grand Prix |
| Monday 6:00 AM | Formula 1 | Grand Prix |
Header Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool
