Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

While it’s a relatively quiet weekend, there’s still some world-class action happening. In the United States, Shane van Gisbergen and Brendon Leitch (above) are in action.

Van Gisbergen is running double duties at Talladega, with his his Xfinity Series outing also doubling as Round 2 of the playoffs, where he currently sits sixth.

Brendon Leitch links up with Earl Bamber Motorsport and returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Intercontinental GT Challenge Indianapolis 8-Hour.

The added downtime of a quieter weekend allows for plenty of time to prepare for next weekend. It’s all go with the Bathurst 1000, European Rally Championship finale and Xfinity Series playoffs, making for a blockbuster schedule.

Viewing times and information for this weekend’s action can be found below.

Enjoy!

Shane van Gisbergen: NASCAR Cup & Xfintiy Series

• Where? Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama
• NZ Times:
  • Xfinity Series Qualifying: Sunday 4.30 am
  • Cup Series Qualifying: Sunday 6.30 am
  • Xfinity Series Race: Sunday 8.30 am
  • Cup Series Race: Monday 7.00 am
• How to watch: Three Now

An impressive eighth placed finish in the opening round of the playoffs in Kansas sees Shane van Gisbergen enter Talladega’s round eight points above the cutoff zone, in sixth.

He’ll be eyeing a big weekend at the famed Superspeedway ahead of the final race of the first round of the playoffs next weekend on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. There 12 drivers will reduce to eight.

Brendon Leitch: Intercontinental GT Challenge- Indianapolis 8-Hour

• Where? Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 8.05 am
  • Pole Shootout: Saturday 10.35 am
  • Race: Sunday 5.15 am- 1.15 pm
• How to watch: Free live stream (YouTube)

Just two weeks after making his IMSA SportsCar Championship debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Leitch returns to the famed circuit to jump behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 R 992, this time for Earl Bamber Motorsport.

The New Zealander will enter the hotly-contested Pro-Am class with factory Porsche driver Bastian Buus (Denmark) and Adrian D’Silva (Malaysia).