Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

There’s another big weekend of motorsport action ahead, headlined by Kiwi star Liam Lawson in the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Shane van Gisbergen also continues in the Xfinity Series, making his first appearance at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In Australia, five Kiwis are competing in the Gold Coast 500, which should spice up the Supercars title fight on the unforgiving Surfers Paradise Street Circuit.

A further three Kiwis are in the Porsche Carrera Cup field, making for a busy few days of action.

Siit back, relax, and enjoy the action as our Kiwi stars fly our flag on the world stage.

Viewing times and information can be found below.

Liam Lawson: Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix

• Where? Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico
• NZ Times:
  • FP1: Saturday 7.30 am
  • FP2: Saturday 11.00 am
  • FP3: Sunday 6.30 am
  • Qualifying: Sunday 10.00 am
  • Race: Monday 9.00 am
• How to watch: Sky Sport

Liam Lawson returns to Formula 1 off the back of his sensational United States Grand Prix performance that saw him finish in the points despite starting at the rear of the field.

The Mexico City Grand Prix makes for another week of great viewing times in New Zealand, with a 9.00 am start time on Monday for the race itself.

Shane van Gisbergen: NASCAR Xfinity Series

• Where? Homestead-Miami Speedway, Florida
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 10.10 am
  • Race: Sunday 9.00 am
• How to watch: Three Now (Race only)

Shane van Gisbergen will make his first appearance at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) oval-shaped intermediate speedway.

He is only competing only in the Xfinity Series this weekend, and was knocked out of title contention in the Round of 12.

Payne, Heimgartner, Stanaway, Wood & Evans: Supercars

• Where?  Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, Queensland, Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Friday 3.30 pm
  • Practice 2: Friday 6.35 pm
  • Race 21 Qualifying: Saturday 2.00 pm
  • Race 21 Top 10 Shootout: Saturday 3.35 pm
  • Race 21: Saturday 6.15 pm
  • Race 22 Qualifying: Sunday 12.10 pm
  • Race 22 Top 10 Shootout: Sunday 2.35 pm
  • Race 22: Sunday 5.15 pm
• How to watch: Sky Sport

Supercars return to action this weekend for the penultimate round of the season on the unforgiving Surfers Paradise Street Circuit which takes no prisoners.

While Bathurst may have lacked action, there’s a high probability of drama on the Gold Coast.

Will Brown’s championship lead has blown out to over 200 points, meaning Broc Feeney and Chaz Mostert need a strong weekend to remain in title contention.

Matt Payne is the highest placed Kiwi in sixth, while Andre Heimgartner is 12th, Ryan Wood 16th, Richie Stanaway 17th, and Jaxon Evans 23rd.

Marco Giltrap, Clay Osborne & Fabian Coulthard: Porsche Carrera Cup Australia

•  Where? Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, Queensland, Australia
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Saturday 12.40 pm
  • Race 1: Saturday 4.55 pm
  • Race 2: Sunday 11.40 am
  • Race 3: Sunday 3.55 pm
• How to watch: Sky Sport

Full-time Porsche Carrera Cup campaigners Marco Giltrap and Fabian Coulthard are joined on the grid by debutant Clay Osborne for this weekend’s round on the Gold Coast.

Osborne will race a brand-new Type 992 GT3 Cup Car with the support of his Sprint Challenge backer, Fendt Tractors.

Harri Jones currently holds the championship lead entering the round and can secure the title if he leaves the Gold Coast with a 181-point margin. The gap currently sits at 229 points.

Coulthard is seventh in the standings and Giltrap 11th, 22 points outside the top ten.