{"id":586252,"date":"2026-04-05T03:11:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T03:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/586252\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T03:11:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T03:11:40","slug":"what-motorsport-to-watch-instead-of-formula-1-in-april","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/586252\/","title":{"rendered":"What motorsport to watch instead of Formula 1 in April"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"What
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMax Verstappen during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. Image: Clive Mason\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

There are a lot of other ways to get your motorsport fix over the next four weekends, however.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of the key events happening on asphalt in April.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The start of the 2024 Bathurst 6 Hour.
\nBathurst 6 Hour<\/p>\n

Kicking things off at home, the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour on April 4-6 will feature a capacity 70-car grid of production cars with a few big-name drivers too.<\/p>\n

The race harks back to the early days of the Bathurst 1000, with production cars fighting it out for their respective classes.<\/p>\n

There are a bunch of current and former Supercars drivers in the mix too, including Jayden Ojeda, Will Davison, Jack Le Brocq, Thomas Randle, Paul Morris, John Bowe and more.<\/p>\n

The Bathurst 6 Hour support card also includes a combined grid of Trans Am Cup Series and TA2 Muscle Car Series competitors.<\/p>\n

How to watch: Fox Sports | Kayo Sports | SBS<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The start of a Supercars race at the 2025 ITM Taupo Super440. Image: InSyde Media
\nSupercars<\/p>\n

Finally! A double dose of Supercars action across the ditch.<\/p>\n

Fans have been rewarded for their patience with back-to-back events, the first at Taupo on April 10-12 and the second at Christchurch on April 17-19.<\/p>\n

This year marks the third visit to Taupo while Christchurch hosts the very first Supercars event in New Zealand\u2019s South Island.<\/p>\n

How to watch: Fox Sports | Kayo Sports<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The start of the 2025 IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image: Chris Owens
\nIndyCar<\/p>\n

Ahead of a blockbuster May, the IndyCar Series will roar around the streets of Long Beach on Monday, April 20 (AEST).<\/p>\n

The beachside street circuit is one of the most iconic on the IndyCar calendar and year after year produces great racing.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one team to watch, it\u2019s Andretti. The team has won five of the last seven races there. Expect Will Power, Marcus Ericsson, and Kyle Kirkwood to be front-runners.<\/p>\n

How to watch: Stan Sport<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A general view of the start of a GT World Challenge Asia race at Sepang.
\nGT World Challenge<\/p>\n

If sprint racing doesn\u2019t do it for you, there is plenty of GT action around the globe.<\/p>\n

GT World Challenge Asia begins its season with a pair of 60-minute races at Sepang on April 3-5 where New Zealanders Jaxon Evans and Brendon Leitch will be in action.<\/p>\n

Evans will return to Team Phantom in an Audi R8 while Leitch joins Harmony Racing in a Ferrari 488.<\/p>\n

GT World Challenge Europe starts with a six-hour race at Paul Ricard on April 10-12. Australia\u2019s Calan Williams will drive a BMW M6 for Oman Racing by Century Motorsport.<\/p>\n

How to watch: Fox Sports | Kayo Sports<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing car of Max Verstappen, Jules Gounon, and Daniel Juncadella during NLS2.
\nNLS<\/p>\n

The cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia from the F1 calendar opens the door for Max Verstappen to return to the N\u00fcrburgring Langstrecken-Serie.<\/p>\n

NLS3 takes place on April 11, though reports out of Europe indicate Verstappen will skip that particular event.<\/p>\n

Verstappen could still conceivably take to the Nordschleife in April with the Nurburgring 24 qualifying events on April 18-19.<\/p>\n

Lucas Auer is reportedly in line to contest the qualifier, though Verstappen has been tipped to make an appearance.<\/p>\n

How to watch: YouTube<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The start of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship 6 Hours of Imola.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

FIA World Endurance Championship<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a New Zealander, then this year\u2019s FIA World Endurance Championship will be worth watching.<\/p>\n

Brendon Hartley in a Toyota, Earl Bamber in a Cadillac and Nick Cassidy in a Peugeot.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Hypercar field is stacked, with 17 cars split across eight manufacturers.<\/p>\n

The LMGT3 field features a few Australians too. Martin Berry will fly the flag for Iron Lynx in a Mercedes-AMG while Yasser Shahin returns to a Porsche 911 GT3 R with Manthey.<\/p>\n

The annual pre-season Prologue at Imola takes place on April 11 before the season-opening Imola 6 Hour on April 19.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

United Autosports fields a pair of Oreca prototypes in the LMP2 in the European Le Mans Series.<\/p>\n

How to watch: Stan Sport | FIAWEC+<\/p>\n

European Le Mans Series<\/p>\n

Barcelona hosts the first round of the European Le Mans Series, which this year has plenty of Australian interest in it.<\/p>\n

Jack Doohan will fly the flag for Australia in the top LMP2 division with Nielsen Racing. Compatriot James Allen will be in the team\u2019s other Pro-Am entry.<\/p>\n

Garnet Patterson will lead United Autosport\u2019s efforts in the LMGT3 class, driving a McLaren 720S.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Tom Sargent makes his series debut with Proton Competition in a Porsche 911 \u2013 again, in the LMGT3 class.<\/p>\n

The first round of the series, the 4 Hours of Barcelona, takes place on April 12.<\/p>\n

How to watch: Kayo Sports | beIN SPORTS<\/p>\n

\"Marco<\/p>\n

Marco Bezzecchi during the MotoGP at Thailand\u2019s Buriram International Circuit.
\nMotoGP<\/p>\n

Is Ducati\u2019s dominance finally over? After an all-conquering 2025 for Marc Marquez, it\u2019s been all about Marco Bezzecchi in 2026.<\/p>\n

The Aprilia rider has been the pick of the bunch, though mistakes in the Saturday sprints have hurt his campaign.<\/p>\n

After starting the season with visits to Asia, South America and North America, the world championship heads to Europe for the first of its Spanish rounds.<\/p>\n

Jerez hosts MotoGP on April 24-26<\/p>\n

How to watch: Fox Sports | Kayo Sports<\/p>\n

\"Shane<\/p>\n

Shane van Gisbergen in the #97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Image: Daylon Barr
\nNASCAR<\/p>\n

What would Monday be without NASCAR?<\/p>\n

The Cup Series heads to Bristol on April 13, Kansas on April 20, and Talladega on April 27.<\/p>\n

Shane van Gisbergen has slowly but surely gotten to grips with oval racing and the upcoming swing may play to his hand.<\/p>\n

Bristol bodes well off the back of a career-best short oval result at Martinsville.<\/p>\n

Intermediate ovals have been a strong suit of van Gisbergen\u2019s lately and the 1.5-mile Kansas should suit SVG \u2013 he finished 10th last time out.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s Talladega, where anything could happen. Van Gisbergen finished 11th the last time he visited.<\/p>\n

How to watch: Fox Sports | Kayo Sports<\/p>\n

For more of the latest NASCAR news and analysis, visit Speedcafe US<\/a><\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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