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Japan, Rome and Canada. Kiwis racing all over the world this weekend

New Zealand drivers are in close championship battles in all parts of the world this weekend

Jul 11, 2023

The amount of Kiwi drivers competing at the highest echelons of motorsport right now is truly unprecedented.

This weekend we have multiple Kiwis racing at far-flung destinations in very different categories looking to either extend their championship lead or continue a heated battle for top honours.

vans and Cassidy in the chase for Formula E championship as they head to Rome.

A frustrating technical issue with the Jaguar TCS Formula E Car at Portland meant Kiwi Mitch Evans couldn’t net the points he probably should have and that means the pressure is very much on Jaguar and Evans heading into Rome this weekend.

Evans, fourth on the points table, remains in the championship fight but it will require winning performance and a low points scenario for his main championship rivals, Pascal Wehrlein, Jake Dennis and fellow Kiwi, Nick Cassidy. Cassidy sits second in the championship and is on a flyer running the same Jaguar supplied drivetrain as Evans. The next two rounds will deliver a nail biting finish to the Formula E season and it’s great to have two New Zealand drivers in the chase for top honours.

In Evan’s favour is Rome has been a circuit he and Jaguar has been consistently strong at.

At Rome, I've had good success in the past. We have won there three times in four. So, definitely a venue that I love going back to. I've won all those three races with the team, but you know, this is different generation car, so let's see how we adapt to that that track.”

He’s also hoping he can shake off some past performances inconsistency at the season finale round in London.

“Yeah, London. I've had a lot of bad luck there, but I've also had a podium to finish up the season. So, I mean, the remaining tracks are looking good for us, but to execute the day and all the opportunities, you know, that’s going to be crucial,” said Evans.

Giltrap excited for first event at Fuji

Marco Giltrap is preparing for the next exhilarating Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia race at the iconic Fuji circuit in Japan on 14-16 July. In addition to also contesting the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge in Australia, where he leads the Championship. Fresh from a win in Adelaide alongside his veteran Lamborghini co-driver, Chris van der Drift, Giltrap is looking forward to taking on the challenging twists and turns of Fuji for the first time.

"Fuji is exciting for sure. I think for most drivers, it is right up there in terms of legendary circuits to compete on. It’s got one of the longest straights in the world, and I'm told the Huracan might see around 300km/h down there, but there are also some big braking areas and a rapid succession of hairpins and turns where managing tyre degradation in the heat will be very tricky. It’s a really technical circuit, and I’m expecting it to be a challenging one to master. Thankfully Chris (van der Drift) is no stranger there, and I’m sure I will pick up a lot of valuable insight from him," Giltrap said.

In their most recent victory, Giltrap and van der Drift showcased their combined racecraft, battling against fierce competition with a touch of controversy. Starting from the third position, van der Drift set the pace, skillfully manoeuvring within the front pack. Giltrap took the wheel after the pit stop, and as the race unfolded, a series of dramatic events culminated in a nail-biting finish. Though Cecotto crossed the line first, he was served a post-race penalty of 30 seconds, propelling Giltrap and van der Drift to the well-deserved first-place position.

Following Fuji, Giltrap will be back in Australia fighting for another win in the highly competitive Porsche Michelin Sprint series against fellow Kiwis Ronan Murphy and Zac Stichbury.

You can stream both the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia and Porsche Australia Michelin Sprint series live on YouTube.

Indycars head to Toronto

Kiwis, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong will be worth watching as Indycars head to the streets of Toronto on Monday morning NZ Time. Being a street circuit, it’s racing Scott McLaughlin and rookie, Marcus Armstrong are very comfortable with, while Scott Dixon is still very much in the battle for another Indycar Championship.

Dixon will be coming off the back of a fantastic P2 finish at Mid Ohio and while teammate Alex Palou is driving exceptionally well, Dixon, who sits 110 points off Palou and second in the championship will pounce on any opportunity to claim an record-equalling seventh Indycar title.