Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

Get ready for a jam-packed weekend of international motorsports, featuring Kiwi drivers across a range of prestigious series. From St. Petersburg to the Circuit of the Americas and the season-opening WEC race in Qatar, this weekend’s racing action boasts a strong New Zealand presence.

NASCAR Cup Series – Circuit of the Americas:

Shane Van Gisbergen returns for Round 3 of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series at COTA, a track he favours following his 2024 road course success. Last year’s race at COTA presented challenges. He received a penalty for speeding on pit row, and subsequently lost first gear , resulting in a 21st-place finish.

This year’s race features a revised COTA layout, shifting from the 5.513km Grand Prix configuration to a shortened 3.7km NASCAR track. It is reminiscent of the National Circuit used during Supercars’ 2013 visit.

IndyCar, Indy NXT, and USF Pro 2000 – Streets of St. Petersburg:

An impressive seven New Zealanders will be racing in St. Petersburg across three series, all beginning their 2025 seasons this weekend.

IndyCar:

Scott Dixon embarks on his 23rd consecutive IndyCar season, aiming for a comeback after finishing outside the top five in 2024. That’s only the second time he hasn’t been in the top five in the past 19 years.

Scott McLaughlin enters his fifth season in the series, building on a stellar 2024 campaign. That included a pole position for the Indy 500 and his first oval race win at Iowa Speedway. He ended with a third-place finish in the championship standings for the second consecutive year.

The 2023 Rookie of the Year, Marcus Armstrong, joins Meyer Shank Racing in the #66 car for 2025. This follows his departure from Chip Ganassi Racing after two years.

Indy NXT:

Callum Hedge enters his second season in the series, this time with Abel Motorsports. This follows a successful rookie year with HMD Motorsports where he achieved five top-five finishes. That included a podium finish in Detroit, to finish fourth overall.

He’ll be joined by Liam Sceats, who is making his Indy NXT debut with HMD Motorsports. While this is currently his only confirmed event, Sceats hopes to compete in the full 2025 campaign. He will be moving up from USF Pro 2000 where he secured five podium finishes and a victory, culminating in a fifth-place championship finish.

USF Pro 2000:

Jacob Douglas (Pabst Racing) and Sebastian Manson (TJ Speed Motorsports) are both set to make their USF Pro 2000 debut this weekend.

Douglas, who showed great promise in USF Pro 2000 pre-season testing, joins the series after a six-race stint in the GB3 Championship last year.

Manson brings experience from a successful 2024 season, achieving second place in both the NZ Formula Ford Championship and the Formula Regional Japanese Championship. He’s already begun his 2025 campaign, winning two races in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship en route to a sixth-place finish.

FIA World Endurance Championship – Lusail International Circuit (Qatar):

Pre-season testing offered a fascinating glimpse into the competitive landscape. Cadillac emerged as a strong contender, achieving a 1-2 finish on the opening day and securing second place overall the following day. Toyota, despite completing significant mileage, appeared to lack overall pace. The competition promises to be fierce in the season opener, with Cadillac, Ferrari, and BMW all demonstrating impressive speed and closing the gap during testing. The outcome remains uncertain, making it anyone’s race.

Brendon Hartley returns for his sixth consecutive season with Toyota Gazoo Racing, again partnering Sébastien Buemi and Ryō Hirakawa in the #8 entry. Earl Bamber continues his WEC career with the Cadillac V-Series. He is now driving for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA (#38 entry) alongside Sébastien Bourdais and Jenson Button.

Weekend Schedule (NZT):

Where to Watch:

NASCAR Cup: ThreeNow

Indycar Series: SkySport

Indy NXT: Indycar Live

USF Pro 2000: YouTube

World Endurance Championship: FIA WEC App

Header Image: Scott Dixon Facebook