Motorsport Diary: Kiwis racing overseas this weekend

Just two Kiwi drivers are flying the flag on the international stage this weekend. Shane van Gisbergen returns to NASCAR Cup action at the Talladega Superspeedway, and Cormac Buchanan lines up in Moto3 at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez.

It’s a quieter weekend before the floodgates open. Next week’s international schedule is jam-packed with Kiwi representation. So, enjoy your time off the couch while you can!

All the key session times and broadcast details are below.

Shane Van Gisbergen: NASCAR Cup Series

• Where? Talladega Superspeedway, Alabama.
• NZ Times:
  • Qualifying: Sunday 2:35 AM
  • Race: Monday 7:00 AM
• How to Watch: ThreeNow (race only)

Van Gisbergen returns to the track this weekend after a well-earned weekend off. He lines up for one of NASCAR’s most iconic events—the Talladega 500. The 2.66-mile superspeedway is renowned for its high-speed pack racing and unpredictable nature.

SVG is no stranger to Talladega, having raced there twice last year during his Cup cameo season. He impressed on both occasions, running up front and even leading laps in both races. He came home 28th in the spring race and improved to 15th in the fall.

It’s been a tough start to his first full-time NASCAR season; he is currently 34th in the standings. He has shown flashes of brilliance, including a standout sixth-place finish at COTA. He will be hoping to build momentum with a strong result at a track where he’s previously looked comfortable.

Cormac Buchanan: Moto3 World Championship

• Where? Circuito de Jerez, Spain
• NZ Times:
  • Free Practice 1: Friday 7:00 PM
  • Practice: Friday 11:15 PM
  • Free Practice 2: Saturday 6:40 PM
  • Qualifying 1: Saturday 10:50 PM
  • Qualifying 2: Saturday 11:15 PM
  • Race: Sunday 9:00 PM
• How to Watch: ThreeNow

After a breakthrough performance at COTA and a strong showing in Qatar, Cormac Buchanan returns to Moto3 action this weekend. The championship heads to Jerez for Round 5 of the season, the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Southlander continues to grow in confidence in his rookie campaign, having broken into the Top Ten for the first time in Texas. He was also running inside the points again in Qatar before an unfortunate crash ended his race early. Despite that setback, Buchanan has shown he’s more than capable of mixing it with the regular front-runners.

Jerez is a track Buchanan knows well from his time in junior championships, which should help him hit the ground running this weekend. The fast and flowing Spanish circuit is a favourite among riders and often produces tight, tactical racing. So it should be perfect conditions for the Kiwi to bounce back and continue climbing the standings, where he currently sits 18th.