KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 30 JANUARY – 2 FEBRUARY WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
From the tight confines of an American short oval to the streets of Miami and the flowing curves of Estoril, it’s a varied and busy weekend for Kiwi drivers competing across North America and Europe.
In the United States, the NASCAR Cup Series begins its 2026 campaign with the traditional Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. Shane van Gisbergen lines up for Trackhouse Racing in the non-points opener, which offers the first real glimpse of form ahead of his second full season at the top level of NASCAR competition.
Formula E also returns to action with Round 3 of the championship at the Miami E-Prix, staged at the Miami International Autodrome. New Zealand is strongly represented in the all-electric series, with Mitch Evans racing for Jaguar TCS Racing and Nick Cassidy competing for Team Citroen Racing as the series heads to Florida.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe continues with Rounds 3 and 4 at the historic Estoril circuit in Portugal. Marco Giltrap will represent New Zealand with Team 75 Bernhard as the winter series reaches its midpoint.
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
Shane Van Gisbergen’s livery for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series opener at Bowman Stadium. Image: Trackhouse Racing
Where? Bowman Gray Stadium, North Carolina
NZ Times:
Practice & Qualifying: Sunday 12:10 PM
Heat Races: Sunday 2:30 PM
Last Chance Qualifying Race: Monday 12:00 PM
Race: Monday 2:00 PM
How to Watch? ThreeNow (to be confirmed)
Shane van Gisbergen enters his second full-time NASCAR Cup Series season this weekend with expectations firmly raised after a breakout debut year at the top level.
The Trackhouse Racing driver made an immediate impact in 2025, cementing himself as the benchmark on road courses while also showing steady progress on ovals as the season unfolded. Multiple road-course victories underlined his global reputation, and, crucially, consistent, progressive results across the calendar saw van Gisbergen advance into the Cup Series Playoffs, where he was subsequently eliminated after the Round of 16 due to a run of bad luck.
His success has only increased the spotlight heading into 2026, particularly with NASCAR’s revised championship format placing an even greater emphasis on consistency across all track types. While road courses remain a strength, strong oval performances will again be essential if van Gisbergen is to secure enough points and stage wins to return to the finals.
Adding another layer of intrigue is the arrival of highly rated teenager Connor Zilisch as van Gisbergen’s new Trackhouse teammate. Zilisch’s speed and versatility — particularly on road courses ensures internal competition will be fierce, pushing van Gisbergen to deliver every weekend as Trackhouse looks to remain a championship contender.
With the pressure rising and expectations reset, van Gisbergen begins his second Cup Series campaign knowing that continued success will demand excellence not only on road courses, but across the full spectrum of NASCAR’s diverse calendar.
Formula E moves to Miami this weekend for Round 3 of the 2026 season, and New Zealand drivers Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans will be looking to build on strong starts to the championship.
Cassidy heads into the weekend at the top of the Drivers’ Championship after a spectacular victory in Mexico City, where he charged from 13th on the grid to deliver Citroën their first-ever Formula E win. The Kiwi’s intelligent energy management and perfectly timed Attack Mode deployments saw him move through the field and take the lead in the closing laps, narrowly holding off Edoardo Mortara to secure the triumph.
Mitch Evans has also shown glimpses of his pace in the opening rounds. The Jaguar TCS Racing driver ran strongly in the lead group in Mexico City, even taking the race lead briefly on Lap 28, but a combination of energy management challenges and the train of cars using Attack Mode saw him finish 11th. Evans will be eager to turn his strong qualifying performances into consistent points finishes as the series heads to the Miami International Autodrome.
Both Kiwis will need to adapt to the unique challenges of Miami’s street circuit, which blends high-speed corners with tight technical sections. With Cassidy leading the championship and Evans chasing, the weekend promises to be a crucial one for New Zealand’s Formula E representation.
Marco Giltrap | Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe
Marco Giltrap #66 at Rounds 1 and 2 last weekend in Portimão. Image: Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe
Where? Autódromo do Estoril (Estoril Circuit), Portugal
Kiwi driver Marco Giltrap continues his 2026 campaign in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Southern Europe this weekend with Rounds 3 and 4 at the historic Autódromo do Estoril in Portugal.
Giltrap arrives at Estoril off the back of a sensational opening weekend at Portimão, where he dominated the Sport Division category with a race win and a second-place finish. The results cemented his status as the championship front-runner and gave Team 75 Bernhard a strong start to the season.
The Estoril Circuit presents a fresh challenge, with its mix of fast, flowing corners and tight technical sections demanding precision and consistency. After demonstrating strong pace and racecraft at Portimão, Giltrap will be aiming to carry that momentum into the Portuguese round, with both races offering crucial points as the championship begins to take shape.
With two rounds on the Estoril schedule, it promises to be a busy weekend for Giltrap, who will be looking to extend his early-season advantage and continue showcasing New Zealand talent on the European GT scene.
I hope ThreeNow (or someone) has NASCAR this year. All the NASCAR content was removed from the ThreeNow site a few weeks ago. MotoGP stuff is all still there though. Sky has no NASCAR scheduled for Monday atm.
I hope ThreeNow (or someone) has NASCAR this year. All the NASCAR content was removed from the ThreeNow site a few weeks ago. MotoGP stuff is all still there though. Sky has no NASCAR scheduled for Monday atm.