KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 13-16 MARCH WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
Kiwi drivers will once again be racing across the globe this weekend, with action spanning Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, sportscar racing and junior single-seaters.
In China, Liam Lawson returns to the cockpit for Round 2 of the Formula 1 World Championship at the Shanghai International Circuit, contesting the Chinese Grand Prix for Racing Bulls. Sharing the Shanghai stage will be Marco Giltrap, who launches his 2026 campaign in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia with Rounds 1 and 2 at the same venue, driving for Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport.
Across in the United States, the NTT IndyCar Series heads to Texas for the Grand Prix of Arlington, where Kiwi trio Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon and Marcus Armstrong continue their championship campaigns with Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing and Meyer Shank Racing, respectively.
Supporting the IndyCar weekend on the streets of Arlington, Kiwi youngsters Jacob Douglas and Sebastian Manson begin their seasons in the USF Pro 2000 Championship, contesting the opening two rounds of the 2026 campaign with Pabst Racing and Turn 3 Motorsport.
Meanwhile in Las Vegas, Shane van Gisbergen continues his rookie NASCAR Cup Series season in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, driving for Trackhouse Racing.
Back in Australia, Hunter Robb will make his first appearance of the year in an Australian IRC Racing Series car at The Bend Motorsport Park during the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, sharing driving duties with Australian racer Harri Jones.
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? Shanghai International Circuit, China
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 4:00 PM
- Sprint Qualifying: Friday 8:00 PM
- Sprint Race: Saturday 4:00 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 8:00 PM
- Grand Prix: Sunday 8:00 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports and F1TV
Kiwi Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson will be looking to bounce back this weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix after a challenging start to the season at the Australian Grand Prix.
Lawson’s race in Melbourne was compromised from the start after suffering battery issues on the formation lap and then experiencing a lack of power when the lights went out at Albert Park Circuit. The slow launch dropped the Kiwi down the order, although he avoided early chaos and settled into seventeenth by the end of the opening lap.
Despite the setback, Lawson worked his way back through the field during the race, making progress during the closing stages and applying pressure to Alexander Albon and Sergio Perez. However, ongoing energy deployment issues limited his charge, and Lawson ultimately crossed the line in thirteenth place.
➡️ Australian Grand Prix Recap HERE
Now the focus shifts to Round 2 of the championship at the Shanghai International Circuit, where Lawson will aim for a stronger result as the 2026 Formula 1 season continues.
Marco Giltrap | Porsche Carrera Cup Asia
- Where? Shanghai International Circuit, China
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 5:55 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 2:10 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 9:55 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 4:55 PM
- How to Watch? Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific YouTube Channel
Kiwi driver Marco Giltrap is set to begin a new chapter in his career this weekend as he launches a full-time campaign in Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.
The New Zealander will compete in the 2026 season with Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport, stepping up to a complete championship programme after previously contesting selected rounds while racing full-time in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia.
Giltrap heads into the season with strong momentum, having secured two podium finishes at Sepang International Circuit during the 2025 campaign. The upcoming year will also mark a major milestone for the series, with drivers competing in the brand-new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992.2) — the latest generation of Porsche’s one-make race car.
Adding to the opportunity, Giltrap has been selected as part of the championship’s 2026 Talent Pool programme, which supports promising young drivers with coaching, training camps and financial assistance as they develop their careers in international motorsport.
“I’m excited to be making the move to Carrera Cup Asia with Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport,” said Giltrap. “We’ve had some great success here in the past, and it will be some good competition on track.”
The season begins this weekend with the opening rounds at the Shanghai International Circuit in support of the Formula 1 weekend, giving Giltrap the chance to showcase his talent on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon & Marcus Armstrong | NTT IndyCar Series
- Where? Arlington, Texas
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 10:00 AM
- Practice 2: Sunday 3:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 8:30 AM
- Race: Monday 6:30 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
Kiwi trio Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon and Marcus Armstrong are preparing to return to action this weekend as the NTT IndyCar Series heads to Texas for Round 3 of the 2026 season.
The three New Zealanders come into the Grand Prix of Arlington off the back of a strategic and chaotic race at Phoenix Raceway last time out.
In a race heavily influenced by cautions and varying pit strategies, Armstrong led the Kiwi charge with a strong fifth-place finish for Meyer Shank Racing. Chip Ganassi Racing veteran Dixon followed in seventh after running inside the top five late in the race, while Team Penske driver McLaughlin recovered to eighth after a strategy shuffle dropped him down the order during the middle stages.
The result leaves McLaughlin well placed in the early championship fight, currently sitting third in the standings and just 12 points behind series leader Josef Newgarden.
Now the focus shifts to the streets of Arlington, where the Kiwi trio will be looking to build on their early-season momentum and challenge for stronger results as the 2026 campaign continues.
Jacob Douglas & Sebastian Manson | USF Pro 2000 Championship
- Where? Arlington, Texas
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 5:30 AM
- Qualifying: Saturday 11:15 AM
- Race 1: Sunday 6:25 AM
- Race 2: Sunday 10:55 AM
- How to Watch? USF Pro Championships Youtube
Kiwi rising stars Jacob Douglas and Sebastian Manson will launch their 2026 campaigns this weekend as the USF Pro 2000 Championship begins on the streets of Arlington, Texas.
The season-opening double-header forms part of the support programme for the NTT IndyCar Series event, giving the young drivers a major stage to begin their title bids.
Douglas enters the new season with Pabst Racing and will be aiming to start the year strongly as the championship gets underway with Rounds 1 and 2 around the challenging temporary street circuit.
Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi Manson begins his campaign with Turn 3 Motorsports, looking to make an early impact as he takes on the highly competitive field.
With two races scheduled across the weekend, both drivers will have multiple opportunities to put points on the board as the 2026 season gets underway in Texas.
Shane Van Gisbergen | NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Las Vegas Motor Speedway, USA
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Sunday 10:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 11:40 AM
- Race: Monday 9:00 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Kiwi NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane van Gisbergen heads to Las Vegas this weekend for Round 5 of the 2026 Championship, looking to build on a determined recovery drive at Phoenix Raceway.
At Phoenix, Van Gisbergen battled through multiple setbacks, including spins and late-race contact, to climb back through the field and finish 11th — just outside the top ten. The Trackhouse Racing driver showed resilience on a track he admits is still a challenge, turning a tough start into a strong finish and further proving his competitiveness on ovals.
Now at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Kiwi will aim to continue that momentum on the 1.5-mile tri-oval, seeking to climb further up the standings and keep his championship challenge alive as the 2026 season progresses.
Hunter Robb | Australian IRC Racing Series
- Where? The Bend Motorsport Park, South Australia
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Friday 2:15 PM
- Qualifying 1 Driver A: Friday 5:25 PM
- Qualifying 1 Driver B: Friday 6:55 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 4:05 PM
- Race 2: Saturday 6:45 PM
- Race 3: Sunday 1:30 PM
- Race 4: Sunday 4:55 PM
- How to Watch? Hi-Tec Oils Super Series YouTube Channel
Kiwi racing talent Hunter Robb is set to make his debut in the Australian IRC Racing Series this weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park.
Robb will share driving duties with Australian Carrera Cup winner Harri Jones in the powerful IRC SD car — a V8-powered, sequential-shift machine designed for driver development and professional racing progression. The car features no traction control or ABS, providing a raw, hands-on driving experience similar to the Porsche GT machinery Robb will race later this year.
“I’m excited to be swinging off the sequential shifter,” Robb said ahead of the weekend.
“It’s a new experience at high speeds, and I’m looking forward to learning alongside Harri and picking up as much as I can from his experience.”
The event also doubles as a preview for Round 2 of the Michelin Sprint Series in April, giving Robb valuable seat time on the circuit before his full Sprint Challenge campaign. Fans in New Zealand can follow all the on-track action live on YouTube as the young Kiwi takes his first steps in the IRC category.
Header Image: Penske Entertainment – Chris Owens
