Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

International action returns this weekend, with Kiwis Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans resuming their Formula E World Championship battle at the Mexico City E-Prix. Brendon Leitch and Earl Bamber feature in the 24 Hours of Dubai field.

We will also be treated to some excellent racing on home soil, with Round 2 of the NextGen New Zealand Championship, the Taupo Historic GP. It features a diverse range of renowned machinery, and a large contingent of international stars. There’s also the opening round of the Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship.

After several weeks of little activity, the season is finally upon us, and it’ll only continue to get busier!

For viewing times and information of Formula E and the 24 Hours of Dubai, see below.

Enjoy!

Nick Cassidy & Mitch Evans: Formula E

• Where? Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez, Mexico
• NZ Times:
  • Practice 1: Saturday 11.55 am
  • Practice 2: Sunday 2.25 am
  • Qualifying: Sunday 4.30 am
  • Race: Sunday 8.00 am
• How to watch: Sky Sport

The 2024/25 Formula E World Championship returns with Mitch Evans at the top of the standings following his historic last-to-first victory in the Sao Paulo E-Prix last month.

Cassidy, Evans’s teammate at Jaguar TCS Racing, will be looking to bounce back from his Round 1 DNF, which came following a frightening crash with Maximilian Gunther and Pascal Wehrlein. The latter’s car ended upsidedown after it was flipped driver’s side-first into the outside wall.

Despite Cassidy’s non-points result, Jaguar TCS Racing are second in the Team’s Championship, only two points behind McLaren.

Brendon Leitch & Earl Bamber: 24 Hours of Dubai

• Where? Dubai Autodrome, UAE
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Friday 11.25 pm
  • Race: Saturday 10.00 pm
• How to watch: Free live stream

Over 65 entries split across five classes are confirmed for the 24 Hours of Dubai, Round 1 of 2 in the 24H Series Middle East Trophy, at the Dubai Autodrome. New Zealanders Earl Bamber and Brendon Leitch are included in the field, as is two-time WRC Champion Kalle Rovanpara. He makes his GT racing debut in a Porsche.

Bamber’s Earl Bamber Motorsport (EBM) is fielding an Aston Martin Vantage AMR in the GT3-Pro/AM class. The New Zealander is joined by Setiawan Santoso, Munkong Sathienthirakul, and Tanart Sathienthirakul.

Leitch rejoins Leipert Motorsport, the same team with which he won the 2024 Lamborghini Super Trofeo world title. He is driving a Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2 in the GTX class. Joining Leitch are Don Yount, JJ Song, Takis, and Gerhard Watzinger.