Weekend recap: Career Highs & Podium Moments
Earl Bamber, alongside teammates Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti, secured a dominant victory in the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen V-Series.R at the TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The trio led 210 of 243 laps in the six-hour IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race, finishing just under a second ahead of the No. 10 Cadillac. This marked Bamber’s ninth IMSA win, giving the Cadillac Whelen team its first victory since the 2023 Sebring 12 Hours and its first podium since May 2024. “We had really high hopes at the start of the season,” Bamber said. “We’ve had a lot of good cars, but things really haven’t gone our way. We’ve been working day in and day out to get this win, so it’s really nice to be back on the top step of the podium. We feel like we’ve got really good momentum and are laying a great foundation now.”
Hunter McElrea, driving the No. 11 ORECA LMP2 07 for TDS Racing, contributed to a third consecutive LMP2 class victory at the TireRack.com Battle On The Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Alongside co-drivers Steven Thomas and Mikkel Jensen, McElrea helped maintain a clean and consistent race amid competitors’ missteps. Although the team officially led only 38 of 241 laps, Jensen’s dominant final stint secured the win, finishing 0.714 seconds ahead of the second-place car. McElrea credited a productive two-day test at Indy for their improved performance and celebrated his third IMSA WeatherTech Championship win in just 10 starts. Having also won at Indy in Indy NXT in 2023, McElrea proudly joined TDS Racing’s “three in a row” legacy at the iconic track.
The next and final round of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup is the 28th annual Motul Petit Le Mans, set for October 8-11 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Ryan Yardley delivered a standout performance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway over the weekend, securing two second-place finishes in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America and taking the lead in the championship standings. Yardley qualified second and showed consistent pace across both races, battling fiercely with rivals Aaron Jeansonne and Zachary Vanier. In Race 1, Yardley overcame early setbacks to reclaim second place after a dramatic series of incidents and safety car periods. He repeated the feat in Race 2, fending off pressure and executing a late move on Vanier to secure another runner-up finish. Yardley's double podium earned him a 10-point lead in the championship as the series heads to Road Atlanta next month.
Liam Lawson delivered the best performance of his Formula 1 career at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix over the weekend, securing an impressive fifth-place finish for the Racing Bulls team. Starting from a career-high third on the grid after a chaotic qualifying session, Lawson showcased remarkable composure. Despite intense pressure from faster cars, he held his own with smart defensive driving and consistent pace, especially in the final laps. His result not only marked a personal milestone but also made history as the highest F1 finish by a New Zealander since 1976. The points haul was a significant boost for Racing Bulls, helping them leapfrog Aston Martin in the constructors’ standings and further solidifying Lawson’s reputation as a rising star in the sport.
Shane van Gisbergen scored his career-best oval qualifying at the NASCAR Mobil 1 301, starting 10th at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He quickly moved into the top ten and earned his first stage points on an oval with a strong Stage 1 finish. Unfortunately, his race ended early after contact with Brad Keselowski triggered a crash on Lap 118. Despite the DNF, SVG’s pace and progress showed he's becoming a serious contender in the Cup Series for next year.
Kaleb Ngatoa finished P2 in class at the South Island Endurance Series at Rupuna this weekend in the 3 Hour Enduro Race alongside Paul Kelly in the Porsche 992 Cup Car. This was the first of three weekends of racing across the South Island. Coming up next is Round 2 at Teretonga (October 3-4) then Round 3 at Highlands (October 17-18).