Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 13-16 FEBRUARY WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁

From the high banks of Daytona to the mountain at Mount Panorama and the sweeping streets of Jeddah, it’s a blockbuster weekend for Kiwi drivers across three major international categories.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series roars into life with the iconic Daytona 500, and all eyes will be on Shane van Gisbergen as he begins his second full campaign in the championship.

The Trackhouse Racing driver lines up in the No.97 Chevrolet for Round 1 at the sport’s most famous superspeedway. The 500-mile opener is a drafting battle like no other — pack racing, split-second decisions, and the ever-present threat of “The Big One” ensuring survival is just as critical as speed. For van Gisbergen, it marks the official start of a title charge on one of motorsport’s grandest stages.

Across the Tasman, Mount Panorama hosts the Bathurst 12 Hour, with Kiwi drivers represented across multiple classes.

Team NZ lines up in GT4 with an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for Graeme John Dowsett, Romain Leroux and Chris van der Drift.

In the Pro class, Earl Bamber (Johor Motorsports Racing, Corvette Z06 GT3.R), Jaxon Evans (Arise Racing GT, Ferrari 296 GT3) and Ryan Wood (Ziggo Sport Tempesta by ARGT, Ferrari 296 GT3) are all part of strong outright combinations.

Brendon Leitch (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO) and Steve Brooks (Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II) compete in Pro-Am, while Daniel Gaunt represents New Zealand in the Bronze class aboard a Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with TSUNAMI RT.

Meanwhile, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship heads to Saudi Arabia for Rounds 4 and 5 on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Mitch Evans continues his campaign with Jaguar TCS Racing, while fellow Kiwi Nick Cassidy lines up for Citroën Racing in the all-electric street racing series. The fast, flowing Corniche layout promises tight margins and strategic intrigue as both drivers look to bank valuable points in the early stages of the season.

It’s a packed programme across three continents, with Kiwi drivers embedded in some of the biggest events on the global motorsport calendar — from NASCAR’s crown jewel to Bathurst’s endurance epic and Formula E’s Middle Eastern double-header.

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 Cup Series

• Where? Daytona International Speedway, Florida
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Thursday 4:00 AM
  • Qualifying: Thursday 2:15 PM
  • Duel 1: Friday 1:00 PM
  • Duel 2: Friday 2:45 PM
  • Practice 2: Saturday 11:45 AM
  • Practice 3: Sunday 9:00 AM
  • Race: Monday 8:30 AM
    
• How to Watch? ThreeNow

Shane van Gisbergen heads to Daytona this weekend looking to turn promise into points after a mixed night at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

The Kiwi showed strong speed in the pre-season exhibition, especially when rain hit the short track. In slippery conditions, he worked his way from the back into the lead on multiple occasions, using his wet-weather experience to full effect. But a string of cautions, contact and late-race shuffles dropped him down the order, and he eventually finished 20th — a result that didn’t reflect how competitive he had been.

Now the focus shifts to Round 1 of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Van Gisbergen will start 37th out of 45 drivers in the Trackhouse Racing No.97 Chevrolet after qualifying, and was 38th in the opening practice session. At a superspeedway like Daytona, though, practice speed and grid position aren’t always decisive. The 500-mile race is built around drafting, strategy and staying out of trouble in the tightly packed field.

After showing at Bowman Gray that he can fight at the front, van Gisbergen now begins his second full Cup Series championship campaign in NASCAR’s biggest event, aiming for a clean run and a strong start to the season.

Graeme John Dowsett, Romain Leroux, Chris Van Der Drift, Jaxon Evans, Ryan Wood, Steve Brooks, Earl Bamber, Brendon Leitch & Daniel Gaunt | 12 Hours of Bathurst

• Where? Mount Panorama, Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 10:45 AM
  • Practice 2: Friday 1:00 PM
  • Practice 3: Friday 4:10 PM
  • Practice 4: Friday 6:40 PM
  • Practice 5: Saturday 10:05 AM
  • Practice 6: Saturday 12:05 PM
  • Qualifying 1: Saturday 3:05 PM
  • Qualifying 2: Saturday 3:50 PM
  • Qualifying 3: Saturday 6:15 PM
  • 12hr Race: Sunday 7:45 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports

Mount Panorama hosts one of the toughest endurance races on the calendar this weekend, with a strong group of Kiwi drivers spread throughout the field for the Bathurst 12 Hour.

From outright contenders to class challengers, New Zealand talent is well represented across the grid.

In the Pro class, Earl Bamber headlines the Kiwi charge with Johor Motorsports Racing. The experienced endurance racer will share the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R with Alexander Sims and Nicky Catsburg as they target outright honours around the demanding 6.2km circuit.

Jaxon Evans is also in the Pro fight, lining up with Arise Racing GT in a Ferrari 296 GT3 alongside Davide Rigon and Daniel Serra — a combination with proven GT pedigree. Fellow Kiwi Ryan Wood joins Ziggo Sport Tempesta by ARGT, also in a Ferrari 296 GT3, teaming up with Christopher Froggatt, Jonathan Hui and Lorenzo Patrese in another strong Pro-class entry.

In the Pro-Am ranks, Brendon Leitch competes with Geyer Valmont Racing/Tigani Motorsport in a Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO, sharing duties with Sergio Pires, Scott Andrews and Marcel Zalloua. Steve Brooks represents New Zealand with Team BRM in an Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II alongside Mark Rosser, Alex Peroni and James Golding.

Daniel Gaunt lines up in the Bronze class with Italian squad TSUNAMI RT, piloting a Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with Johannes Zelger, Fabio Babini and Alex Fontana as they take on the 12-hour challenge.

In the GT4 class, Team NZ fields an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for Graeme John Dowsett, Romain Leroux and Chris van der Drift, giving Kiwi fans a home-grown combination.

With the mountain’s unforgiving walls, changing track conditions and the race stretching from sunrise into the afternoon, the Bathurst 12 Hour always tests patience as much as pace. This weekend, a wide spread of Kiwi drivers will be aiming to conquer the mountain in one of Australasia’s biggest endurance events.

Mitch Evans & Nick Cassidy | Formula E

• Where? Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia
• NZ Times:
  • Round 4:
  • Free Practice 1: Friday 6:00 AM
  • Free Practice 2: Friday 11:30 PM
  • Qualifying: Saturday 1:40 AM
  • Race: Saturday 6:05 AM
  • Round 5:
  • Free Practice 3: Saturday 11:30 PM
  • Qualifying: Sunday 1:40 AM
  • Race: Sunday 6:05 AM
    
• How to Watch? Sky Sports

Kiwi Formula E drivers Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy head to Jeddah this weekend for Rounds 4 and 5 of the 2025/26 season, following mixed results last time out in Miami.

Evans returns to action with momentum after a strong win in the Miami E-Prix. Starting ninth in wet conditions, the Jaguar TCS Racing driver steadily worked his way forward before taking the lead with a well-timed switchback move. He managed the closing stages calmly to secure his 15th career Formula E victory — his first points of the new season.

“It’s special to have this record for the most wins,” Evans said.

“I’m still missing the big one – the championship – but these stats are great. It’s a huge testament to the team. Hopefully, this is a good restart to our season.”

Cassidy’s Miami race was more challenging. The Citroën Racing driver qualified seventh but slipped down the order as conditions deteriorated, finishing 16th and outside the points. Even so, he remains at the top of the Drivers’ Championship after three rounds, holding a narrow lead.

The championship now moves to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for a double-header weekend. The fast street circuit presents a different test, with qualifying and race strategy likely to be key across the two races.

For Evans, it’s an opportunity to build on his Miami win. For Cassidy, it’s about responding quickly and protecting his position at the top of the standings.

Header Image: SRO Australia – Daniel Kalisz