Kiwis in motorsport this weekend

It’s another relatively quiet weekend for Kiwis in motorsport overseas, with only two key series featuring New Zealanders.

This includes the addition of James Penrose to the prestigious 2022 BRSCC Formula Ford Festival, and Ryan Wood and Madeline Stewart returning in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge.

Shane van Gisbergen will sit out this weekends round of the GT World Challenge Australia, replaced by Red Bull Ampol teammate Broc Feeney.

James Penrose – BRSCC Formula Ford Festival

• Where: Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, United Kingdom
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Begins Saturday 9pm
  • Heats: Begin Sunday 1.35am (all 12 laps)
  • Semifinals: Monday 1.30am (both 14 laps)
  • Last Chance Race: Monday 4.11am (8 laps)
  • Race: Monday 5.06am (20 laps)
• How to watch: Live Stream

Formula Ford fans are in for a busy weekend with the MASSIVE BRSCC Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch Indy in the UK.

Eighty competitors will fight it out over two days, beginning on Saturday night (NZ time) with four qualifying rounds. From here, the teams will race in heats to determine who qualifies for the semifinals. Following the semifinals, a ‘Last Chance’ race is held, the top cars from that promoted to the Grand Final to start on the rear of the grid.

Penrose is attending the event as his prize for winning the NZ Formula Ford Festival in May 2021. Whilst participation was supposed to take place last year, covid prevented that from happening.

Despite the disruption, he has kept himself busy, including winning Round 2 of the Class 4 & 5 One Hour in the South Island Endurance Series just last month.

Ryan Wood & Madeline Stewart – Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge

• Where: The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, South Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Friday 7pm (20 minutes)
  • Race 1: Saturday 12.40pm (8 laps)
  • Race 2: Saturday 4.10pm (60 minutes)
  • Race 3: Sunday 1.40pm (8 laps)
• How to watch: YouTube highlights, or live on 7plus (Australia only)

Only 9 points seperate series leader Thomas Sargent and Kiwi Ryan Wood, the duo having won every race this year between them. It’s Sargent with the advantage after taking five wins to Wood’s three.

There’s still three rounds to run in 2022, the title there for the taking for either driver, the rest of the field far behind.

The battle between the pair also extends to the Endurance Cup, Sargent also leading that with two wins to Wood’s one.

Madeline Stewart has had a mixed season in contrast, but has finished as high as fourth in Round 2 at Queensland raceway, showing she has the pace there to put the car towards the right end of the field.