KIWIS RACING ABROAD | 27-30 MARCH WEEKEND PREVIEW 🏁
New Zealand’s motorsport stars are set for another action-packed weekend across the globe, with Kiwis competing in Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, GT racing and Supercross across Asia, Australia and the United States.
In Japan, the spotlight falls on the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, where Liam Lawson continues his Formula 1 campaign with Racing Bulls. The iconic figure-eight circuit presents one of the toughest challenges on the calendar as Lawson looks to build momentum early in the season.
Across the Tasman in Australia, a strong Kiwi contingent headlines the season-opening GT Festival at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. In GT World Challenge Australia, Brendon Leitch leads the charge in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, while Ryan Wood teams up with Steve Brooks in an Audi R8 LMS EVO II. Jaxon Evans adds further firepower in a Ferrari 296 GT3, making it a stacked Pro-Am field with plenty of Kiwi interest.
Supporting categories at Phillip Island also feature New Zealand talent. Hunter Robb begins his campaign in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia, while in Monochrome GT4 Australia, Tayler Bryant, William Exton and Blake Dowdall will all be in action across the competitive Silver class.
In the United States, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Martinsville Speedway for Round 7, where Shane van Gisbergen continues his rookie campaign with Trackhouse Racing at one of NASCAR’s most demanding short tracks.
Open-wheel action continues at Barber Motorsports Park with the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix. Three Kiwis will take to the grid, with Scott Dixon leading Chip Ganassi Racing, Scott McLaughlin representing Team Penske, and Marcus Armstrong competing for Meyer Shank Racing.
On two wheels, Cormac Buchanan lines up for Round 3 of the Moto3 World Championship at the Grand Prix of the United States at Circuit of the Americas, continuing his rookie season on the world stage.
Meanwhile, in Detroit, Cole Davies returns to action in the AMA Supercross Championship at Ford Field, competing in the 250SX East class as he looks to build on his strong early-season form.
It’s another globe-spanning weekend for New Zealand’s motorsport stars, with Kiwis competing across some of the world’s biggest stages in what promises to be a packed and highly competitive few days of racing.
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? Suzuka Circuit, Japan
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 3:30 PM
- Practice 2: Friday 7:00 PM
- Practice 3: Saturday 3:30 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 7:00 PM
- Grand Prix: Sunday 6:00 PM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports or F1TV
Liam Lawson heads into the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit with strong momentum after a standout weekend in China.
At the Chinese Grand Prix, the Kiwi scored points in both the Sprint and the main race, showcasing impressive racecraft and strategy. A bold hard-tyre call in the Sprint saw him climb from 13th to seventh, while a composed recovery drive from 14th on the grid in Sunday’s race delivered another seventh-place finish.
The double points result moved Lawson into the top ten of the Drivers’ Championship and marked his most complete weekend of the season so far with Racing Bulls.
Now, Suzuka presents a fresh challenge. One of Formula 1’s most technical and demanding circuits, it will be another key test — but with confidence building, Lawson arrives well placed to continue his upward trajectory.
Brendon Leitch, Jaxon Evans, Ryan Wood & Steve Brooks | GT World Challenge Australia
- Where? Phillip Island, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 12:10 PM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 3:50 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 1:15 PM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 1:35 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 5:55 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 3:40 PM
- How to Watch? YouTube
The Kiwi presence will be strongly felt as the GT World Challenge Australia season kicks off at the fast and flowing Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit as part of the GT Festival.
Brendon Leitch leads the charge in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, entering the season as a proven front-runner in the Pro-Am ranks and one to watch from the outset. Rising star Ryan Wood continues his rapid development, teaming up once again with Steve Brooks in an Audi R8 LMS EVO II, with the pairing aiming to make a strong statement early in the championship.
Adding further depth to the Kiwi contingent is Jaxon Evans, who brings a wealth of international GT experience to the grid in the Ferrari 296 GT3. Evans’ pedigree makes him a genuine contender as the season gets underway, not to mention he will be seeking that championship title after a single penalty denied him of taking the top spot.
With a competitive Pro-Am field and Phillip Island’s high-speed layout placing a premium on precision and consistency, the opening round shapes as an important early benchmark — and a key opportunity for the Kiwi drivers to establish themselves in the title fight.
Hunter Robb | Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia
- Where? Phillip Island, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 11:35 AM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 3:15 PM
- Qualifying: Saturday 12:35 PM
- Race 1: Saturday 5:05 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 12:20 PM
- Race 3: Sunday 6:00 PM
- How to Watch? No NZ Coverage (Fox Sports & Kayo Sports for Australian viewers)
Hunter Robb returns to the grid for the opening round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, beginning his second campaign with Jones Motorsport and targeting a major step forward in 2026.
After an encouraging rookie season that showcased strong pace, including a podium at Phillip Island and multiple top-ten finishes, Robb enters the new year with added experience and a clear focus on consistency. Despite several retirements limiting his overall results in 2025, he proved he has the speed to run at the front — something he’ll be aiming to convert into regular podium contention this season.
Phillip Island presents an ideal opportunity to start strongly. The Kiwi was immediately competitive at the circuit last year and has already highlighted it as a venue where both he and the team feel confident. With a full off-season of preparation behind him and backing from Vomo Island Fiji – Racing for Curekids, Robb arrives with high expectations.
Targeting both the championship and the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy, this opening round shapes as an important early indicator — and a chance for the young Kiwi to turn promise into results as he looks to establish himself as a genuine title contender.
Tayler Bryant, William Exton & Blake Dowdall | Monochrome GT4 Australia
- Where? Phillip Island, Australia
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Friday 1:15 PM
- Free Practice 2: Friday 4:55 PM
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 11:10 AM
- Qualifying 2: Saturday 11:30 AM
- Race 1: Saturday 2:55 PM
- Race 2: Sunday 1:10 PM
- How to Watch? YouTube
A strong trio of Kiwi drivers will take on the season-opening round of Monochrome GT4 Australia at the high-speed Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, with all three competing in the highly competitive Silver class.
Leading the charge is Tayler Bryant, who lines up in the Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO 2. Bryant continues to build his reputation in GT machinery and will be looking to translate that experience into a strong start as the new season gets underway.
Joining him is William Exton in the McLaren Artura GT4. Exton has shown steady progression across recent seasons and will be aiming to establish himself firmly inside the front-running group as he continues his development in the category.
Completing the Kiwi lineup is Blake Dowdall in the Ford Mustang GT4. Dowdall brings further depth to the field and will be targeting a consistent and competitive weekend to kickstart his campaign.
With all three drivers competing in the Silver class, the opening round presents a crucial opportunity to build early momentum in what is expected to be a tightly contested championship. Phillip Island’s fast, flowing layout will reward commitment and precision, making it an ideal early benchmark — and a chance for the Kiwi trio to make their mark from the outset.
Shane van Gisbergen | NASCAR Cup Series
- Where? Martinsville Speedway, Virginia
- NZ Times:
- Practice: Sunday 5:30 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 6:40 AM
- Race: Monday 8:30 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Shane van Gisbergen faces another steep learning curve as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the iconic Martinsville Speedway — one of the most unique and demanding tracks on the calendar.
The Kiwi arrives off the back of a challenging outing at Darlington, where he qualified 33rd and battled throughout the race before recovering to finish 14th. Despite the result, it was another valuable experience in race management, tyre wear and adapting to the demands of oval racing in the Cup Series.
Martinsville presents a completely different test. The tight, flat short track — often described as a paperclip — places a premium on braking, patience and racecraft in heavy traffic. With constant wheel-to-wheel action and little margin for error, it’s a circuit that demands precision and discipline, particularly for drivers still building experience in stock cars.
As he continues to adapt to the nuances of NASCAR racing, Martinsville offers both a challenge and an opportunity — another chance for the Kiwi to gain experience, refine his craft, and edge closer to consistent front-running performances.
Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin & Marcus Armstrong | NTT IndyCar Series
- Where? Barber Motorsports Park, Alabama
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Saturday 8:30 AM
- Practice 2: Sunday 4:00 AM
- Qualifying: Sunday 7:30 AM
- Race: Monday 6:00 AM
- How to Watch? Sky Sports
The Kiwi trio of Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong return to action this weekend for the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park, looking to build on solid if hard-fought results last time out in Arlington.
Six-time champion Dixon once again showcased his trademark racecraft in Texas, charging from 20th on the grid to finish eighth for Chip Ganassi Racing. Armed with strong race pace — highlighted by setting the fastest lap of the race — Dixon will be targeting a cleaner qualifying performance this weekend to convert that speed into a genuine shot at the front on Barber’s flowing permanent circuit.
Team Penske driver McLaughlin endured a more dramatic race in Arlington, narrowly avoiding early-race chaos before regrouping to finish 11th. While just outside the top ten, it marked another consistent points finish, and he’ll be aiming to return to the sharper end of the grid at a circuit that rewards precision and rhythm.
Meanwhile, Armstrong continued his quietly impressive start to the season with Meyer Shank Racing, bringing the car home in 10th after a composed drive. Consistency has been a key strength for the Kiwi so far, and Barber presents another opportunity to build momentum and push further into the top ten.
With its technical layout, elevation changes and emphasis on qualifying position, Barber Motorsport Park offers a different challenge to the streets of Arlington. For the Kiwi trio, it’s a chance to translate race pace into stronger track position, and potentially fight further up the order as the season begins to take shape.
Cormac Buchanan | Moto3
- Where? Circuit of Americas, Texas
- NZ Times:
- Free Practice 1: Saturday 3:00AM
- Practice: Saturday 7:15 AM
- Free Practice 2: Sunday 2:40 AM
- Qualifying 1: Sunday 6:45 AM
- Qualifying 2: Sunday 7:10 AM
- Grand Prix: Monday 6:00 AM
- How to Watch? ThreeNow
Cormac Buchanan heads to the Grand Prix of the United States at Circuit of the Americas looking to put a tough weekend in Brazil behind him.
Buchanan showed plenty of pace in Brazil, running near the front in practice before a high-side crash left him with rib and back injuries. Despite the setback, he pushed through qualifying and the race to finish P18, calling it one of the hardest races of his career.
There were positives to take from the weekend, too. Buchanan proved he has the speed to run with the leaders in both wet and dry conditions, showing he is developing into a rider capable of challenging for top results in the Moto3 World Championship.
At Austin, fitness will be the key challenge, with only a short gap between rounds. The track’s heavy braking zones will test him physically, but if he can recover, it’s another chance to turn his pace into strong results and continue building confidence in the championship.
Cole Davies | AMA Supercross
- Where? Ford Field, Detroit
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Sunday 5:00 AM
- Main Event: Sunday 12:00 PM
- How to Watch? Super Motocross Video Pass
Cole Davies heads into this weekend’s Monster AMA Supercross round at Ford Field on the back of a big result in Birmingham. Davies was awarded the win in the 250SX East/West Showdown after Haiden Deegan received a post-race penalty, giving the Kiwi his first victory of the season and the championship lead with 89 points.
Davies has shown strong speed and consistency in the opening rounds of the season, and the Birmingham result was a clear reward for his determination and focus. The win also gives him momentum heading into Detroit, where he’ll be looking to build on that performance and continue leading the 250SX East standings.
The stadium layout at Ford Field will be another test of Davies’ skill, with tight corners, rhythm sections, and technical jumps demanding precision and composure. After proving he can handle pressure and capitalise on opportunities, Davies will be aiming to keep that form going and stay at the front of the field.
With the season still in its early stages, this weekend is another chance for Davies to strengthen his championship position and show that he belongs at the sharp end of American Supercross.
Header Image: Red Bull Content Pool
