Kiwis racing overseas this weekend (October 5 to 8, 2023)

More than a dozen Kiwis will take to Mount Panorama across various classes this weekend, but there’s also plenty of other action around the world, including a thrilling title battle in British Formula 4 for Louis Sharp and Liam Lawson appearing in Formula 1 at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Madeline Stewart, Callum Hedge and Rianna O’Meara-Hunt are also in action in the United States, meaning there’s a lot of racing to be watched over the next few days.

To see who is in action, how you can follow, and at what times, see below!

Payne, Heimgartner, van Gisbergen, Stanaway, Evans & Coulthard – Supercars – Bathurst 1000

• Where: Mount Panorama, Bathurst
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Thursday 3.20 pm (all drivers)
  • Practice 2: Thursday 6.50 pm (co-drivers)
  • Practice 3: Friday 12.00 pm (all drivers)
  • Practice 4: Friday 3.05 pm (all drivers)
  • Qualifying: Friday 6.15 pm
  • Practice 5: Saturday 12.00 pm (co-drivers)
  • Practice 6: Saturday 3.00 pm (all drivers)
  • Top 10 Shootout: Saturday 7.05 pm
  • Race: Sunday 1.15 pm
• How to Watch: Sky Sport 5

It’s that time again, with the Great Race set to take over the nation as 28 cars battle it out over 161 laps of one of the most ruthless tracks in the world. It’s time for the Bathurst 1000.

Shane van Gisbergen and Richie Stanaway pair up in an all-Kiwi lineup at Red Bull Ampol Racing, with the former only 155 points off the overall championship lead.

Andre Heimgartner, who sits fifth in the standings, partners Dale Wood, while Matt Payne has Porsche Hypercar driver Kevin Estre for company at Penrite Racing.

Jaxon Evans will be in action as co-driver for Jack Smith, and Fabian Coulthard links up with Nick Percat at Walkinshaw Andretti United.

Liam Lawson – Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix

• Where: Losail International Circuit, Qatar
• NZ Times:
  • FP1: Saturday 2.00 am
  • Qualifying: Saturday 5.00 am
  • Sprint Shootout: Sunday 1.30 am
  • Sprint Race: Sunday 5.30 am
  • Grand Prix: Monday 5.45 am
• How to watch: Sky Sport

Liam Lawson returns to business for his fifth Grand Prix, filling in once again for Daniel Ricciardo at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Lawson’s best result this season is ninth, and this weekend’s round will also see him get his first taste of Sprint race action.

Ryan Wood – Super2

• Where: Mount Panorama, Bathurst
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying 1: Friday 10.55 am
  • Race 1: Friday 5.15 pm
  • Qualifying 2: Saturday 10.55 am
  • Race 2: Saturday 5.55 pm
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5

Ryan Wood sits third in the Super2 standings, having won three races in 2023. The Dunlop Series will race twice over the weekend, once each on Friday and Saturday.

Chris van der Drift & Fabian Coulthard – Porsche Carrera Cup Australia

• Where: Mount Panorama, Bathurst
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Thursday 5.45 pm
  • Race 1: Friday 4.20 pm
  • Race 2: Saturday 5.15 pm
  • Race 3: Sunday 11.30 am
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia championship leader Callum Hedge will not take part in this weekend’s round at Bathurst, instead electing to run in Formula Regional Americas, where a $600,000 scholarship remains up for grabs.

Three-time Porsche Carrera Cup Asia champion Chris van der Drift will fill in at Team Porsche New Zealand in Hedge’s absence.

Fabian Coulthard is running double duties over the weekend and sits eighth in the standings despite missing the opening round at the Australian Grand Prix.

Callum Hedge – Formula Regional Americas Championship

• Where: Virginia International Raceway
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 7.35 am
  • Race 1: Sunday 3.30 am
  • Race 2: Sunday 9.45 am
  • Race 3: Monday 3.50 am
• How to watch: Free live stream (YouTube)

Hedge was left with a difficult decision as to where his loyalties would lie this weekend, but a $600,000 scholarship for winning FR Americas to use towards a Super Formula campaign was too good an opportunity to turn down.

With two rounds remaining in the series, Hedge sits atop the leaderboard, 55 points ahead of closest rival Ryan Shehan. He can secure the title this weekend if he outscores his rival by 21 points.

Ben Stewart & Christina Orr-West – Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Championship

• Where: Mount Panorama, Bathurst
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Friday 9.25 am
  • Race 1: Friday 2.35 pm
  • Race 2: Saturday 4.45 pm
  • Race 3: Sunday 10.30 am
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5

Ben Stewart and Christina Orr-West will both fly the New Zealand flag in the Toyota 86 Australia series, having earned their spot on the grid through previous accolades.

Stewart was rewarded with a funded drive through claiming the Scholarship Series Shootout last month, while Orr-West gets the call-up to race due to New Zealand Toyota 86 Masters Champion John Penny being unable to attend due to prior commitments.

Ronan Murphy & Angus Fogg – Australia Sports Sedans Series

• Where: Mount Panorama, Bathurst
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Thursday 6.15 pm
  • Race 1: Friday 9.55 am
  • Race 2: Friday 1.15 pm
  • Race 3: Saturday 1.15 pm
• How to watch: Sky Sport 5

Fogg returns to Bathurst for the first time since 2019, driving his famed Black & Gold J. A. Russell Ltd 1970 Fastback Mustang.

Ronan Murphy will be appearing on the mountain for the very first time, driving a 5000cc Marc Ford Focus.

Louis Sharp – British Formula 4

• Where: Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 11.45 pm
  • Race 1: Sunday 4.30 am
  • Race 2: Monday 12.30 am
  • Race 3: Monday 4.35 am
• How to follow: Live timings

Louis Sharp enters the final round of the 2023 British Formula 4 Championship with a narrow one-point lead over rival William Macintyre.

The series will race three times to decide the champion, with third-placed Deagen Fairclough out of contention.

Rianna O’Meara-Hunt – GT4 America

• Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USA
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 3.35 am
  • Race 1: Saturday 10.25 am
  • Race 2: Monday 3.35 am
• How to watch: Free live stream (GT4 America website)

Rianna O’Meara-Hunt partners Hannah Grisham for the final time in GT4 America, with the season concluding in Indianapolis this weekend.

Grisham and O’Meara-Hunt, driving the Heart of Racing Team’s Aston Martin GT4, have achieved a best result of fifth in the Am class three times this season.

Madeline Stewart – Porsche Sprint Challenge North America

• Where: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USA
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Thursday 10.30 am
  • Race 1: Friday 3.45 am
  • Race 2: Saturday 7.40 am
• How to watch: Free live stream (Porsche Sprint Challenge website)

Madeline Stewart enters the final round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America sitting third in the Pro/Am standings, only 20 points behind second-placed Aidan Kenny Jr. and 54 points off leader Zachary Vanier.

Stewart will join the Porsche Carrera Cup North America field in 2024.