Dixon to make 318th consecutive IndyCar start this weekend

IndyCar headlines another blockbuster weekend of motorsport with Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong all flying the New Zealand flag in the Music City Grand Prix. Hunter McElrea will also compete in Indy NXT at the same event.

Chris van der Drift returns to the Porsche Carrera Cup in Asia while some talented up-and-comers will spread their wings with overseas adventures, including Ben Stewart in the Toyota 86 Australia Scholarship Series and Bailey Cruse in the MX5 Cup.

New Zealand Toyota 86 Champion Brock Gilchrist and top rookie Rylan Gray are also racing in ADAC GT4 Germany at Nurburgring as their prizes for their results in this year’s championship.

Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin & Marcus Armstrong – IndyCar Music City Grand Prix

• Where: Streets of Nashville, Tennessee
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Saturday 8.00 am
  • Practice 2: Sunday 3.40 am
  • Qualifying: Sunday 6.45 am
  • Final Practice: Sunday 10.25 am
  • Race: Monday 4.00 am
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5 (055)

Scott Dixon will make his 318th consecutive IndyCar start at this weekend’s Music City Grand Prix, an event he won last year. Dixon is currently third in the standings, 120 points behind leader Alex Palou.

Scott McLaughlin was runner-up in last year’s event. He is currently fifth in the standings, 148 points off Palou.

It’s Marcus Armstrong’s first race on the Nashville street course, but he admits it’s been a race he’s been targeting since the calendar was announced. Despite only competing on Road and Street courses, Armstrong is the top rookie in the championship.

Hunter McElrea – Indy NXT

• Where: Streets of Nashville, Tennessee
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Sunday 7.05 am
  • Race: Monday 3.10 am
• How to watch: IndyCar Live website (free)

Indy NXT will compete on the Streets of Nashville to support this weekend’s IndyCar Music City Grand Prix. Hunter McElrea is currently fourth in the standings, 46 points behind leader Christian Rasmussen.

McElrea featured on the podium in this event last year.

Chris van der Drift – Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

• Where: Chang International Circuit, Buriram, Thailand
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 3.00 pm
  • Race 1: Saturday 8.10 pm
  • Race 2: Sunday 3.30 pm
• How to watch: Free Live Stream (motorsport.tv)

Chris van der Drift returns to action for Team Shanghai Yonda as the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia hits Chang International Circuit in Thailand.

Van der Drift sits third in the standings, 37 points behind leader Florian Latorre.

Brock Gilchrist & Rylan Gray – ADAC GT4 Germany

• Where: Nürburgring, Germany
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying 1: Saturday 7.00 pm
  • Race 1: Sunday 1.10 am
  • Qualifying 2: Sunday 6.30 pm
  • Race 2: Monday 1.25 am
• How to watch: Free Live Stream (ADAC Motorsports YouTube)

New Zealand 2023 Toyota 86 Championship winner Brock Gilchrist and top rookie Rylan Gray of Australia will team up for this weekend’s ADAC GT4 Germany round on the famed Nürburgring. The duo were rewarded with the drive following their respective successful campaigns in Toyota 86.

They will share KCMG’s GR Supra GT4 EVO for the two races, wearing the appropriate number 86 on the car.

Bailey Cruse – MX5 Cup

• Where: Road America, Wisconsin
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 6.35 am
  • Race 1: Sunday 2.15 am
  • Race 2: Sunday 7.45 am
• How to watch: Free Live Stream (IMSA.tv)

Bailey Cruse makes his IMSA MX5 Cup debut this weekend for Hixon Motor Sports. The talented teenager will compete in two 45-minute races on Wisconsin’s famed Road America circuit.

Ben Stewart – Toyota 86 Scholarship Series Australia

• Where: Queensland Raceway, Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 1.05 pm
  • Race 1: Saturday 5.00 pm
  • Race 2: Sunday 11.10 am
  • Race 3: Sunday 3.15 pm
• How to watch: Free Live Stream (Blend Line TV YouTube)

Ben Stewart will compete on Australian soil for the first time this weekend as he takes to the track for three Toyota 86 Australia Scholarship Series races.

The 18-year-old is driving for 99 Racing for this round and the next and is aiming to secure a place in the Shootout to compete for spots on the Toyota 86 grid when they race in support of this year’s Bathurst 1000.

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