Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

There’s another big weekend of motorsport action ahead, and we can’t wait!

Once again, North America is home to the largest contingent of Kiwis competing overseas.

Shane van Gisbergen is running double duties in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series at Darlington, while Marcus Armstrong, Scott Dixon and Scott McLaughlin are racing an IndyCar double-header at the Milwaukee Mile.

Callum Hedge is also competing in Indy NXT at Milwaukee. Meantime, Alex Crosbie returns to his F4 US Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

The World Endurance Championship also has an American round. Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber are in action at Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas.

In Europe, Hayden Paddon continues his European Rally Championship title defence at Rali Ceredigion in Wales.

Closer to home, the World Time Attack Challenge in Sydney will be well worth a watch, with Rodin Motorsports debuting Project 006. This is a reimagined GT1-era racer in the form of the long-forgotten Sintura S99. Australian Josh Buchan will drive the Sintura as it competes in the Emtron Pro Class. The Rodin Fzed will also hit the track several times.

Mad Mike Whiddett is set for a series of outings in Sydney, driving his infamous four-rotor Mazda 3. It has been transformed into the fire-breathing, time-attacking BULLET.

If you’re short on options, there’s also the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, which always throws up a surprise or two!

Viewing times and information of Kiwis competing around the world can be found below.

Enjoy!

Shane van Gisbergen: NASCAR Xfinity & Cup Series

• Where? Darlington Raceway, South Carolina
• NZ Times:
  • Xfinity Series Qualifying: Sunday 3.10 am
  • Cup Series Qualifying: Sunday 5.20 am
  • Xfinity Series Race: Sunday 7.30 am
  • Cup Series Race: Monday 10.00 am
• How to watch: Three Now (Races only)

Shane van Gisbergen returns to Darlington Raceway to run double duties in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Cup Series.

Van Gisbergen finished 15th in his maiden race at the egg-shaped oval in May and enters the round sitting 12th in the Xfinity Series standings. His three wins this season have qualified him for the playoffs.

Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin & Marcus Armstrong: IndyCar

• Where? Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin.
• NZ Times:
  • Practice: Saturday 7.30 am
  • Qualifying: Sunday 6.15 am
  • Race 1: Sunday 9.40 am
  • Race 2: Monday 6.30 am
• How to watch: Sky Sport

Scott McLaughlin now leads the Kiwi charge in IndyCar, having leap-frogged Scott Dixon in the standings to claim fourth. He enters this weekend’s double-header 88 points behind series leader Alex Palou.

Dixon is fifth, 13 points behind McLaughlin, while Marcus Armstrong has climbed to 13th and is only 16 points outside the top ten.

Brendon Hartley & Earl Bamber: World Endurance Championship Lone Star Le Mans

• Where? Lone Star Le Mans, Circuit of the Americas
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Sunday 8.00 am
  • Race: Monday 6.00 am-12.00 pm
• How to watch: Paid live stream (WEC App)

Toyota Gazoo Racing sits only four points behind Porsche in the WEC Manufacturer’s Championship after Brendon Hartley, Ryo Hirakawa, and Sebastien Buemi won the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo last round.

The victory for the #8 Toyota lineup elevated them to fifth in the Driver’s Championship. They trail Porsche’s Andre Lotterer, Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor by 46 points with three rounds remaining.

Cadillac Racing’s Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn also team up, looking to improve on their ranking of 13th.

Hayden Paddon: European Rally Championship

• Where? Rali Ceredigion
• NZ Times:
  • SS1-2: Saturday 4.30 am
  • SS3-10: Saturday 6.30 pm
  • SS11-14: Sunday 7.00 pm
• How to watch: Paid live stream (rally.tv) or free live updates

Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard return to their European Rally Championship title defence with this weekend’s Rali Ceredigion in Wales.

Paddon will drive a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 for BRC Racing Team and leads Mathieu Franceschi by 14 points in the standings ahead of the event.

The Kiwi star won the 2022 edition of the tarmac rally with co-driver Jared Hudson.

Callum Hedge: Indy NXT

• Where? Milwaukee Mile, West Allis, Wisconsin.
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Sunday 5.00 am
  • Race: Sunday 7.50 am
• How to watch: Paid live stream

Just two rounds remain in the 2024 Indy NXT season, with the first being an oval outing at the Milwaukee Mile this weekend.

Callum Hedge is fourth in the championship, 78 points off a top-three spot, but mathematically out of title contention to runaway leader Louis Foster.

Alex Crosbie: F4 US Championship

• Where? Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 5.45 am
  • Race 1: Sunday 12.55 am
  • Race 2: Sunday 7.45 am
  • Race 3: Monday 1.00 am
• How to watch: Free live stream

Alex Crosbie returns to the F4 US Championship for the penultimate round at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Ontario.

The Southlander sits third in the standings and enters the round following his maiden victory and two second placings last round in New Jersey.

Mad Mike Whiddett & Rodin Motorsport: World Time Attack Challenge

• Where? Sydney Motorsport Park
• NZ Times:
  • Emtron Pro Class (Rodin Sintura)
    • Friday 11.15 am
    • Friday 2.00 pm
    • Friday 4.55 pm
    • Saturday 11.15 am
    • Saturday 1.45 pm
    • Saturday 5.25 pm
    • Saturday 9.15 pm (Shootout)
  • Mad Mike- Time Attack Run
    • Friday 12.10 pm
    • Saturday 12.20 pm
  • Rodin Fzed
    • Friday 3.10 pm
    • Friday 5.50 pm
    • Saturday 12.10 pm
    • Saturday 2.40 pm
• How to watch: Livestream

The World Time Attack Challenge in Sydney brings phenomenal machinery to the track, including some made right here in New Zealand.

Rodin will debut their latest work of art: Project 006, a reimagined GT1-era racer in the form of the long-forgotten Sintura S99. Australian Josh Buchan will drive the Sintura as it competes in the Emtron Pro Class.

Mad Mike Whiddett will also hit the track at least twice in his infamous four-rotor Mazda 3. It has been transformed into the fire-breathing, time-attacking BULLET, that broke records at Pikes Peak last year.

Rodin will also run their Fzed for a series of demo displays over the two-day event.