Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 5 – 8 DECEMBER WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁

From the lights of Abu Dhabi to the snowy French Alps and the electric streets of São Paulo, Kiwi racers are set for a weekend of global action that spans continents, disciplines, and championship battles.

The 2025 F1 season reaches its climax in Abu Dhabi, with the Yas Marina Circuit set to host the final Grand Prix of the year. Liam Lawson will be looking to cap off a strong season with another points finish, freed from the pressure of seat uncertainty after his 2026 Racing Bulls drive was confirmed earlier this week.

In France, Haydon Paddon tackles the Rallye National Hivernal du Devoluy in his Hyundai i20 N Rally2. Snow, ice, and tight mountain roads make this one of the toughest winter rallies on the calendar. Paddon’s experience and calm under pressure will be key as he takes on the challenging Alpine stages.

The 2025/26 Formula E season also gets underway this weekend in São Paulo. Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) and Nick Cassidy (now with Citroën Racing) tackle the new campaign in different cars after Cassidy’s team switch earlier this year. Both Kiwis will be aiming for a strong start, hoping to build on the success they enjoyed in São Paulo last season.

From the fast straights of F1 to the icy Alpine roads of France and the twisty streets of São Paulo, Kiwi drivers are in action around the world this weekend. Chasing wins, tackling challenging conditions, or taking on the intensity of Formula E, New Zealand’s racers are set to make their mark on a big weekend of international 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. ⬇️

Liam Lawson | Formula 1

• Where? Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 10:30 PM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 2:00 AM
  • Practice 3: Saturday 11:30 PM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 3:00 AM
  • Grand Prix: Monday 2:00 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports/Sky Go App

Liam Lawson capped off another solid performance in Qatar at the penultimate round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, finishing ninth and securing points for the seventh time this year.

Starting from 12th, Lawson navigated a chaotic race with composure and strategic precision, taking advantage of the early Safety Car and managing his tyres effectively to move through the field in a race where overtaking was at a premium.

While Racing Bulls didn’t have the outright pace to challenge the top eight, Lawson’s disciplined drive ensured he left Qatar with valuable points for the team with final placings of the Constructors Championship yet to be finalised.

➡️Qatar Grand Prix Recap

Since the Qatar Grand Prix, Lawson’s future has been confirmed, with the Kiwi set to race for Racing Bulls in 2026 alongside Formula 2 graduate and 2025 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship winner Arvid Lindblad. The announcement brings certainty to Lawson’s career, allowing him to focus fully on finishing 2025 on a high.

With the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix marking the season finale, Lawson will be aiming for another points finish to underline a consistently impressive midfield campaign. After a steady and mature drive in Qatar, the Kiwi is primed to close out the year with style, showing why he remains one of the standout talents outside the top teams.

Hayden Paddon | Rallye National Hivernal du Devoluy

• Where? Le Dévoluy, France
• NZ Times:
  • SS1 Agnières-en-Dévoluy: Saturday 11:08 PM
  • SS2 La Bachassette 1: Sunday 12:36 AM
  • SS3 La Bachassette 2: Sunday 4:51 AM
  • SS4 Saint-Disdier: Sunday 7:04 AM
  • SS5 Les Gillardes 1: Sunday 7:41 PM
  • SS6 Mère-Eglise 1: Sunday 9:00 PM
  • SS7 Saint-Etienne-en-Dévoluy 1: Sunday 10:17 PM
  • SS8 Les Gillardes 2: Sunday 11:46 PM
  • SS9 Mère-Eglise 2: Monday 1:05 AM
  • SS10 Saint-Etienne-en-Dévoluy 2: Monday 2:22 AM
    
• How to Watch? No information on any official livestream/coverage
• Stage Results: HERE

Hayden Paddon is back behind the wheel this weekend, taking on the Rallye National Hivernal du Devoluy in France alongside British co-driver Jack Morton. The tarmac rally, covering 137.47km across 93 competitive entries, is renowned as a Monte Carlo warm-up, and Paddon will contest the event in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car.

Fresh off his 2025 Australian Rally Championship triumph with co-driver John Kennard, Paddon is in strong form and ready to tackle the icy, technical French asphalt stages. His involvement in the event is sparking interest across the rallying world, with insiders and fans alike noting that it could pave the way for a WRC seat in 2026.

When asked about Paddon’s role in the rally, Hyundai Motorsport managing director Cyril Abiteboul said: “It can be lots of things. It can be some development work. What I can say, he has been part of the family and he has been in Rally1 [top level] before and apart from that I really like his team and the programme in New Zealand and Australia. He is very loyal, and it is good to see that, so let’s see. There are different options for next year with him, and that is one of things we are exploring.”

With Hyundai also weighing its options for a third Rally1 car in 2026 following Ott Tänak’s sabbatical, Paddon’s performance this weekend will be closely watched, and a strong showing could open the door to a return to the top level of world rallying.

Mitch Evans & Nick Cassidy | Formula E

• Where? Streets of São Paulo, Brazil
• NZ Times:
  • Free Practice 1: Saturday 8:30 AM
  • Free Practice 2: Saturday 11:30 PM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 1:40 AM
  • Race: Sunday 6:05 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports/Sky Go App

The 2025/26 Formula E season kicks off this weekend in São Paulo, and Kiwi fans have plenty to watch with Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) and Nick Cassidy (Citroën Racing) both on the grid.

Evans, a proven front-runner in the all-electric series, returns to Jaguar Racing after leading home a one-two finish with Cassidy in São Paulo during the 2023 season. The Kiwi will be looking to replicate that form and get his season off to a strong start, with consistency and racecraft likely to be key on the tight, twisty streets of the Brazilian circuit.

Cassidy begins an exciting new chapter this year with Citroën Racing, joining double champion Jean-Éric Vergne as the French marque prepares for its long-awaited Formula E debut.

For Cassidy, the move comes at a pivotal time, with a dual programme also seeing him compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Peugeot. A two-time runner-up and former third-place finisher in the series, Cassidy brings 10 career wins and 20 podiums to Citroën, providing experience and speed to the new team’s championship challenge.

With both Kiwis in competitive machinery and the São Paulo street circuit notoriously demanding on energy and strategy, Evans and Cassidy will be aiming to make their mark from the first race of the 2025/26 season.

Full Weekend Schedule:

Header Image: Alastair Staley/LAT Images