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Motorsport Preview: Japanese Grand Prix & Phillip Island GT Festival

From Suzuka, over to South Carolina and down to Phillip Island — our drivers are ready to take to the track.

Asia

Formula 1 is back this week for round 3 in Japan. The Japanese Grand Prix is held at 5.807km Suzuka Circuit. Liam Lawson will be in his new team colours for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Lawson has a wealth of experience on Japanese circuits after spending a lot of time racing in Japan. He has been with the Racing Bulls team previously, so he should give some familiarity going into the weekend. Grand Prix is on Sunday at 5pm (NZST).

Australia

The Speed Series, GT Festival heads to Phillip Island this weekend. Includes the opening rounds for GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia. 

Drivers Brendon Leitch and Ryan Wood will be taking part of the GT World Challenge in the pro-am categories. Brendon Leitch driving alongside Tim Miles, the New Zealand pair will be behind the wheel of the #30 Dayle ITM Team MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II. Ryan Wood will be driving with fellow kiwi Steve Brooks in the #88 Team MPC Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II.

William Exton will be making his Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia debut after a successful summer campaign winning the GT NZ Championship GT4 title with Team Giltrap Group Motorsport in the McLaren Artura GT4. William will be running in car #42 for team Tractor Repairs & Spares/TekworkX entry. Keep an eye on this young talent as he races the Porsche.

North America

Throwback Weekend is here, and that means the NASCAR Cup Series is racing at Darlington Raceway, in the Goodyear 400 (Monday 7am). Known for its unique challenges due to the track's distinctive shape and banking. Darlington Raceway, often called "The Lady in Black," is a 1.366-mile oval with 25 degrees of banking in turns 1 and 2, and 23 degrees in turns 3 and 4. This race will be the first of two Cup Series races at Darlington this season. The Goodyear 400 is also notable for its Throwback Weekend, where drivers honour NASCAR legends with retro paint schemes.

The weekend results will be live on Giltrap Group Motorsportsocial media channels.



Friday, April 4

12:05 – Porsche Sprint Challenge Aus – Practice 1

13:40 – GT World Challenge Aus – Practice 1

15:10 – Porsche Sprint Challenge Aus – Practice 2

15:30 – Formula 1 – Practice 1

16:30 – GT World Challenge Aus – Practice 2

19:00 – Formula 1 – Practice 2

Saturday, April 5

12:20 – Porsche Sprint Challenge Aus – Qualifying

13:35 – GT World Challenge Aus – Qualifying

15:30 – Formula 1 – Practice 3

16:20 – Porsche Sprint Challenge Aus – Race 1

17:50 – GT World Challenge Aus – Race 1

19:00 – Formula 1 – Qualifying

Sunday, April 6

04:35 – NASCAR – Practice

05:40 – NASCAR - Qualifying

13:45 – Porsche Sprint Challenge Aus – Race 2

15:45 – GT World Challenge Aus – Race 2

18:05 – Porsche Sprint Challenge Aus – Race 3

17:00 – Formula 1 – Race (Japanese Grand Prix)

Monday, April 7

07:00 – NASCAR – Race (Goodyear 400)