Kiwis in Global Motorsport Action This Weekend

It is a quieter upcoming weekend for New Zealanders in race action overseas.

The next F1 race takes place on Oct 6 at the Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore. 

Meantime, Shane van Gisbergen continues with NASCAR Cup duties, competing at the Kansas Speedway this weekend. 

The 1.5-mile tri-oval (above) offers a different challenge compared with the short tracks and road courses SVG is getting used to. Its “tri-oval” name comes from its distinctive shape. This is a 1.5-mile oval that isn’t quite symmetric; it incorporates a short, straight “triangular” third side instead of a second, parallel straightaway. The design evidently gives fans a better view of the action!

• NZ Times:
• Practice: Sunday 6:00 AM
• Qualifying: Sunday 7:10 AM
• Race: Monday 8:00 AM
• View on ThreeNow

Meanwhile in Japan, Kiwi endurance racers Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley compete in Round 7 of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Fuji International Speedway. Bamber drives with Cadillac Hertz Team Jota and Hartley with Toyota Gazoo Racing. Bamber’s team is currently seventh in the standings and Hartley’s tenth.

• NZ Times:
• Free Practice 1: Friday 1:15 PM
• Free Practice 2: Friday 5:30 PM
• Free Practice 3: Saturday 12:50 PM
• Qualifying: Saturday 6:00 PM
• Hyperpole: Saturday 6:20 PM
• Race: Sunday 2:00 PM
• View on FIA WEC TV

Also in Japan, Cormac Buchanan competes in the Moto3 Grand Prix of Japan at Mobility Resort Motegi (formerly Twin Ring Motegi). He will be hoping for better luck this weekend after starting in Misano from last place. He was then forced off track but rode on, ending up 17th, just outside the points. Buchanan will aim to impress at one of the series’ most demanding circuits. It features plenty of heavy braking zones from high speed straights into slow-speed corners.

• NZ Times:
• Free Practice 1: Friday 12:00 PM
• Practice: Friday 4:15 PM
• Free Practice 2: Saturday 11:40 AM
• Qualifying 1: Saturday 3:45 PM
• Qualifying 2: Saturday 4:10 PM
• Race: Sunday 3:00 PM
• View on ThreeNow