KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 23 – 26 JANUARY WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
The IMSA WeatherTech Championship opens with the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where Kiwis are spread across multiple classes in the famous twice-around-the-clock endurance race.
At the front of the field, Earl Bamber (Cadillac Whelen) and Scott Dixon (Acura Meyer Shank Racing) contest the GTP class and the overall honours.
In LMP2, Hunter McElrea (United Autosports USA) and Nick Cassidy (Inter Europol Competition) take on one of the most competitive categories in sports car racing.
The GTD field also features strong Kiwi representation, with Scott McLaughlin racing for DXDT Racing and Ryan Yardley lining up with Muehlner Motorsports America.
Meanwhile, the World Rally Championship gets underway with the Monte-Carlo Rally, one of the sport’s most demanding and unpredictable events.
Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard tackle the opening round on the icy and changeable roads of the French Alps, where experience and consistency are key to a strong start to the season.
With endurance racing and rallying both in action, it’s a busy and varied weekend for New Zealand drivers as the international motorsport year begins.
Earl Bamber, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin, Hunter McElrea, Ryan Yardley and Nick Cassidy | IMSA WeatherTech Championship
- Where? Daytona International Speedway, Florida
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 4:05 AM
- Qualifying: Friday 8:10 AM
- Practice 2: Friday 12:15 PM
- Practice 3: Saturday 5:05 AM
- Rolex 24 Race: Sunday 7:40 AM
- How to Watch? IMSA YouTube Channel
The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship begins this weekend with the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the traditional season-opening 24-hour endurance race.
New Zealand drivers are once again well represented across several classes. In the top GTP category, Earl Bamber lines up with Cadillac Whelen, aiming to be in contention for overall honours at a circuit where traffic management and consistency are key. He is joined in the GTP field by Scott Dixon, who returns to Daytona with Acura Meyer Shank Racing.
The LMP2 class features two Kiwis, with Hunter McElrea racing for United Autosports USA and Nick Cassidy competing with Inter Europol Competition in a category known for its depth and competitiveness.
There is also New Zealand representation in GTD, where Scott McLaughlin races for DXDT Racing and Ryan Yardley lines up with Muehlner Motorsports America. With large fields and heavy traffic, the GTD class is expected to be particularly challenging over the full 24 hours.
As always, the Rolex 24 will place a strong emphasis on reliability, strategy, and teamwork, with Kiwi drivers involved across all major categories.
Hayden Paddon and John Kennard | WRC
- Where? Monte Carlo, Monaco
- NZ Times:
- SS1: Friday 4:05 AM
- SS2: Friday 6:35 AM
- SS3: Friday 8:35 AM
- SS4: Friday 9:04 PM
- SS5: Friday 10:32 PM
- SS6: Friday 11:50 PM
- SS7: Saturday 3:16 AM
- SS8: Saturday 4:44 AM
- SS9: Saturday 6:05 AM
- SS10: Saturday 8:31 PM
- SS11: Saturday 9:55 PM
- SS12: Sunday 12:31 AM
- SS13 (Super Special): Sunday 6:35 AM
- SS14: Sunday 8:05 PM
- SS15: Sunday 9:35 PM
- SS16: Sunday 11:09 PM
- SS17 (Power Stage): Monday 1:15 AM
- How to Watch? Rally.TV
- Live Timing: Click HERE
Away from Daytona, New Zealand representation also features in the opening round of the World Rally Championship at the Monte-Carlo Rally.
Hayden Paddon and long-time co-driver John Kennard begin their 2026 WRC campaign on one of the calendar’s most challenging events, where conditions can vary dramatically from stage to stage. Monte-Carlo is known for its mix of dry asphalt, snow, and ice, placing a strong emphasis on tyre choice, experience, and consistency.
The rally’s narrow mountain roads, night stages, and unpredictable grip levels leave little margin for error, making it a demanding start to the season. For Paddon and Kennard, the opening round provides an early measure against the competition as the championship gets underway.
With Kiwi drivers competing at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Monte-Carlo Rally, it’s a busy weekend across two very different disciplines. From endurance racing in the United States to rallying in the French Alps, New Zealand drivers are again represented on the international stage as the 2026 season begins.
Header Image: Helena El Mokni – Hyundai Motorsport GmbH
