Kiwis back in action in Supercars this weekend

Supercars headline a blockbuster weekend that sees no less than a dozen Kiwis competing around the globe. Shane van Gisbergen, Matt Payne and Andre Heimgartner return to action for the Townsville 500, while Callum Hedge, Fabian Coulthard, Chris Pither and Ryan Wood will also be racing in their respective classes at the venue.

Jaxon Evans will be looking to hold his ADAC GT Masters lead, as will Brendon Hartley in the World Endurance Championship. Earl Bamber will also be in action at the 6 Hours of Monza.

In rally, Emma Gilmour and Hayden Paddon will take to events in Italy and Sweden.

Shane van Gisbergen, Andre Heimgartner & Matt Payne – Supercars Townsville 500

• Where: Reid Park Street Circuit, Townsville
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 12.10 pm
  • Practice 2: Friday 4.45 pm
  • Race 16 Qualifying: Saturday 12.15 pm
  • Race 16 Top 10 Shootout: Saturday 2.00 pm
  • Race 16: Saturday 4.40 pm
  • Race 17 Qualifying: Sunday 12.00 pm
  • Race 17 Top 10 Shootout: Sunday 2.00 pm
  • Race 17: Sunday 4.40 pm
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5 (055)

Just five days after his historic NASCAR win in Chicago, Shane van Gisbergen will return to Supercars and make his 500th Supercars race start on Sunday. The Kiwi sits fourth in the standings and has ground to make up on Brodie Kostecki who remains in the championship lead by 110 points.

Andre Heimgartner is having another impressive campaign and is sixth in the standings, while Matt Payne has been immense in his debut season and is the best rookie, in 18th overall.

Supercars will race two 250km races over the 13-turn Reid Park Street Circuit in Townsville.

Brendon Hartley & Earl Bamber – World Endurance Championship – 6 Hours of Monza

• Where: Monza, Italy
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Sunday 12.40 am
  • Race: Sunday 10.30 pm
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5 (055)

The World Endurance Championship returns to action following last month’s dramatic 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Brendon Hartley atop the series leaderboard along with Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates Ryo Hirakawa and Sebastien Buemi.

Earl Bamber is third in the standings and is back in action with Richard Westbrook and Alex Lynn for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Thirteen Hypercars will take to the track in this weekend’s six-hour race over the fast Italian circuit.

Ryan Wood – Dunlop Series Townsville 500

• Where: Reid Park Street Circuit, Townsville
• NZ Times:
  • Race 1 Qualifying: Saturday 11.25 am
  • Race 1: Saturday 3.15 pm
  • Race 2 Qualifying: Sunday 11.15 am
  • Race 2: Sunday 3.15 pm
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5 (055)

Ryan Wood enters the third round of the Dunlop Series sitting sixth in the championship but has form on his side after taking both wins last round in Perth. Zak Best is the current series leader, holding a 114-point lead over Wood.

Super3 driver Matthew McCutcheon will not be in action in this weekend’s round.

Both Dunlop Series races are 40 minutes long and run in support of the Townsville 500.

Hayden Paddon – European Rally Championship – Royal Rally of Scandinavia

• Where: Sweden
• NZ Times:
  • SS1-SS8: Friday 7.19 pm
  • SS9-SS16: Saturday 5.23 pm
• How to watch: WRC+ (paid subscription) or live updates on the European Rally Championship website.

Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard enter this weekend’s Royal Rally of Scandinavia in the lead of the European Rally Championship.

Paddon will steer BRC Racing Team’s Hyundai i20 N over the 16-stage, two-day gravel event in Sweden.

Jaxon Evans – ADAC GT Masters

• Where: Norisring, Germany
• NZ Times:
  • Race 1 Qualifying: Saturday 7.00 pm
  • Race 1: Sunday 1.10 am
  • Race 2 Qualifying: Sunday 6.45 pm
  • Race 2: Monday 1.15 am
• How to watch: Live Stream (ADAC Motorsports YouTube)

Jaxon Evans and driving partner Tim Zimmermann head into Round 2 of the ADAC GT Masters leading the championship by a sole point.

The duo will share Huber Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 R over two one-hour races.

Emma Gilmour – Extreme E – Island X-Prix

• Where: Sardinia, Italy
• NZ Times:
  • Race 1 Qualifying Round 1: Saturday 8.00 pm
  • Race 1 Finals Program: Sunday 2.00 am
  • Race 2 Qualifying Round 1: Sunday 8.00 pm
  • Race 2 Finals Program: Monday 2.00 am
• How to watch: TVNZ Duke (Delayed coverage)

Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust lineup for NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team in this weekend’s Island X-Prix, which is the third round of the season.

The duo is currently ranked sixth of 10 teams in the series heading into the double-header in Sardinia, having finished on the podium last time out.

Callum Hedge, Chris Pither & Fabian Coulthard – Porsche Carrera Cup Australia

• Where: Reid Park Street Circuit, Townsville
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 10.40 am
  • Race 1: Saturday 2.40 pm
  • Race 2: Sunday 10.20 am
  • Race 3: Sunday 2.40 pm
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5 (055)

The Porsche Carrera Cup Australia returns to action this weekend in support of the Townsville 500. Callum Hedge is leading the Kiwi charge in the standings and is currently third in the standings. The Kiwi has finished on the podium in four of this season’s five completed races and sits only 17 points off championship leader Jackson Walls.

Fabian Coulthard missed the opening round of the series but scored three strong top 10 results at Darwin, while Chris Pither rounds out the Kiwi contingent and has continued to improve in an unfamiliar series, achieving a season-best 10th in Race 1 last round.

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