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Kia ora, motorsport fans.
2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for New Zealand motorsport. With Liam Lawson lining up on the Formula 1 grid, Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) hunting trophies in the NASCAR Cup Series, and the Dixon/Armstrong duo holding it down in IndyCar, our weekends are going to be packed. Add to that the massive local action with the Christchurch Supercars tearing up Ruapuna right in our own backyard, and there is barely a weekend off.
But let’s be honest—keeping up with our international drivers usually means sleep deprivation. To help you plan your life (and your sick days), here is your essential guide to the 2026 season.
1. Liam Lawson (Formula 1)
The pinnacle of motorsport kicks off right in our backyard. The 2026 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix (March 6–8) in Melbourne. For Kiwi fans, this is the Holy Grail: a race in our time zone to start the year.
The Golden Run: Prime-Time Viewing
For Kiwi fans, the "Golden Run" of evening viewing happens right at the start of the season, with a bonus addition in November. These are the races where you can actually host a BBQ or order takeaways rather than brewing coffee at 3:00 AM.
- Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne) – Sunday, 8 March
- The Vibe: The season opener is the most civilised weekend of the year. With only a two-hour time difference, the race usually kicks off late afternoon (approx. 5:00 PM NZT), flowing straight into the evening news and post-race analysis.
- Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai) – Sunday, 15 March
- The Vibe: A classic Sunday night watch. Shanghai is five hours behind NZT, so the race usually lights out around 8:00 PM NZT. You can wrap up the weekend with Liam Lawson before bed.
- Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka) – Sunday, 29 March
- The Vibe: This is arguably the best slot of the year. With Japan only four hours behind NZT, a typical early afternoon start at Suzuka means 6:00 PM or 7:00 PM in New Zealand. Perfect for dinner and racing.
- Las Vegas Grand Prix – Sunday, 22 November (NZT)
- The Vibe: Because Vegas runs on Saturday night locally (often 10:00 PM), it translates beautifully to Sunday evening in NZ (typically around 7:00 PM). It is one of the few American races that hits the evening slot rather than the Monday morning "work-from-home" slot.
(Note: While the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11 is geographically close, it is a night race locally. This pushes the NZ broadcast time to approximately 1:00 AM, firmly placing it back in the "Midnight Grind" category.)
The 'Breakfast Club' (Work From Home Mondays)
The American legs of the tour usually air on Monday mornings NZT. These are perfect for starting your work week with a second screen running in the background.
- Miami Grand Prix: Monday, May 4 (Morning)
- Canadian Grand Prix: Monday, May 25 (Morning)
The 'Midnight Grinds' (European Leg)
This is the test of true fandom. From late April through September, the European races typically start late Sunday night or in the dreaded early hours of Monday morning.
- The Middle East Double: Bahrain (April 12) and Saudi Arabia (April 19).
- The European Summer: From Monaco (June 7) through to Italy (September 6), we are generally looking at late Sunday nights.
- The Late Ones: Races like Great Britain (July 5) and Belgium (July 19) are staple viewing, but they will test your stamina.
2. Shane van Gisbergen (NASCAR Cup Series)
SVG is back for a massive 2026 campaign. For Kiwis, NASCAR is usually a Monday morning affair, making it the perfect second-screen companion for the start of the work week.
The Season Opener
Mark your calendars for the Daytona 500 on Monday, February 16 NZT (Feb 15 US). This is the Super Bowl of stock car racing and a must-watch.
SVG’s Specialist Tracks (Road Courses)
While SVG is mastering the ovals, his best shots at victory lane remain the road courses. Based on the 2026 schedule, get your reminders set for these dates:
- Circuit of the Americas (COTA): Monday, March 9 NZT.
- Watkins Glen: Monday, August 17 NZT (approximate date based on traditional slot).
- Sonoma Raceway: Monday, June 29 NZT.
- Charlotte ROVAL: Monday, October 12 NZT.
(Note: The schedule lists a return to the Chicagoland Speedway oval in July rather than the Street Race, so keep an eye on his progress on the traditional tracks too.)
3. Scott Dixon & Marcus Armstrong (IndyCar)
The IndyCar season is shorter but intense. The action begins on the Streets of St. Petersburg on March 1.
The Big One
There is one date that matters more than any other. Clear your schedule for Monday, May 25 NZT (May 24 US).
The 110th Indianapolis 500
Scott Dixon will be chasing that elusive second Borg-Warner Trophy. This race usually starts around 4:00 AM or 5:00 AM NZT, so it’s an early start, but absolutely worth it.
4. The 'Super Weekends' (Clashes)
Prepare your multi-screen setup. These are the "Ultimate Couch Potato Weekends" where F1, IndyCar, and NASCAR all overlap, creating a non-stop buffer of racing from Sunday night through Monday afternoon.
- The Triple Crown Weekend (May 24/25 NZT): This is the big one.
- F1: Canadian Grand Prix
- IndyCar: Indianapolis 500
- NASCAR: Coca-Cola 600
- The April Adrenaline Hit (April 19/20 NZT):
- F1: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
- IndyCar: Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
- NASCAR: Kansas Speedway
- The June Jam (June 7/8 NZT):
- F1: Monaco Grand Prix
- IndyCar: Detroit Grand Prix
- NASCAR: Michigan International Speedway
5. How to Watch in NZ
To catch all the action, you'll need your subscriptions sorted.
- Formula 1 & IndyCar: Typically broadcast live on Sky Sport.
- NASCAR: Coverage has recently been available via ThreeNow (free streaming) and Sky Sport.
Get the coffee brewing, team. It’s going to be a fast year.