The Bathurst 500 presents plenty of track action for Kiwis racing overseas this weekend, while Shane van Gisbergen presses on with his NASCAR campaign stateside.
Angus Fogg is back in action in his Fastback Mustang, racing in the Touring Car Masters field in support of Supercars.
SVG faces yet another oval test, this time in Atlanta, looking to build on his respectable 12th place on Xfinity Series debut at Daytona on Tuesday.
The world will also get a first glimpse as to how the 2024 World Endurance Championship shapes up in Qatar, with Brendon Hartley and Earl Bamber testing in the Official Prologue amongst a record-breaking 19-strong Hypercar field.
There’s plenty to see and do this weekend, and the action will only continue to ramp up in the coming weeks.
For all the information you need to know, see below!
Shane van Gisbergen – Xfinity Series
- Where: Atlanta Motor Speedway
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Saturday 10.35 am
- Race: Sunday 11.00 am
- How to watch: Free-to-air (ThreeNow)
Five days after finishing 12th in a dramatic Xfinity Series debut at Daytona, Shane van Gisbergen returns to action at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The 163-lap, 404km race will present another battle of attrition for drivers on the 2.4km oval.
Payne, Stanaway, Wood, Heimgartner & Evans – Supercars
- Where: Mount Panorama, Bathurst
- NZ Times:
- Practice 1: Friday 2.20 pm
- Practice 2: Friday 6.20 pm
- Qualifying 1: Saturday 12.20 pm
- Top Ten Shootout 1: Saturday 3.05 pm
- Race 1: Saturday 6.10 pm
- Qualifying 2: Sunday 11.30 am
- Top Ten Shootout 2: Sunday 2.05 pm
- Race 2: Sunday 5.05 pm
- How to watch: Sky Sport 5
The highly anticipated Supercars season-opener begins at Bathurst this weekend, with five of the 24-strong field flying the New Zealand flag.
Having competed in the past two Bathurst 1000s, Jaxon Evans makes his debut as a solo driver at Brad Jones Racing, the same outfit whom Andre Heimgartner returns to in 2024.
Matt Payne will look to build on his win in last year’s season finale at Grove Racing, and he has compatriot Richie Stanaway alongside him for an all-Kiwi lineup.
Ryan Wood also makes his Supercars debut, joining Chaz Mostert at Walkinshaw Andretti United.
Angus Fogg – Touring Car Masters
- Where: Mount Panorama, Bathurst
- NZ Times:
- Qualifying: Friday 1.00 pm
- Trophy Race: Friday 4.55 pm
- Race 2: Saturday 10.50 am
- Race 3: Saturday 4.10 pm
- Race 4: Sunday 12.45 pm
- How to watch: Sky Sport 5
Angus Fogg returns to Mount Panorama for the second time in as many weekends, joining the Touring Car Masters field for four races in support of the Bathurst 500.
Fogg’s iconic J.A. Russell Ltd-sponsored Mustang was involved in a frightening incident while heading over the top of the mountain last weekend, but the team have worked wonders to get it prepared for the weekend.
Earl Bamber & Brendon Hartley – World Endurance Championship
- Where: Lusail International Circuit, Doha, Qatar
- NZ Times:
- Session 1: Saturday 10.00 pm
- Session 2: Sunday 3.00 am
- Session 3: Sunday 9.00 pm
- Session 4: Monday 2.00 am
- How to follow: Live timing
Nineteen Hypercars have descended on Lusail International Circuit for the Official Prologue of the World Endurance Championship ahead of the season opener at the same venue next weekend.
Earl Bamber and Alex Lynn enter the 2024 championship for Cadillac Racing as a two-driver lineup and will have Sebastien Bourdais join them for the Qatar 1812km.
Defending champion Brendon Hartley returns to Toyota Gazoo Racing with Sebastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa, the same lineup that won the 2023 title.