Pitstop: Kiwi in front

Craig Baird competes in the Porsche GT3 series at the Pukekohe Raceway. File photo / Paul Estcourt

New Zealand Porsche driver Craig Baird goes to Shanghai, China, this weekend holding a narrow four-point lead in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series. Baird is the only driver in the series to have won more than one Porsche titles outside the series (Australia and New Zealand). Now he has a hold on a third. The circuit is the the same one that is used for the Chinese F1 Grand Prix.

Top karters compete

North and South Island championships are being held this weekend for top KartSport competitors. More than 100 karters will be in Auckland for the North Island event, and more than 80 will be in Christchurch. Ten class titles will be racing at the North Island meeting and seven at the South Island meeting. Both events will run over three days.

Comeback plan

Kiwi driver Chris van der Drift will race in the Superleague Formula with Galatasaray during this weekend's final round at Circuito de Navarra in Spain. He missed the last four rounds after spearing into the bridge at Brands Hatch, breaking his ankle and two fingers. "When I make my comeback I will be quick, not hanging at the back of the field," he said. "It would be nice to finish on the podium and go to the super final."

Fast tests

Fellow Kiwi racer Richie Stanaway has again been testing this week with Gravity Motorsport. On day one Stanaway missed half of the session with engine problems. But when he did make it on to the track, he was half a second faster than anyone else. The second day's testing was even better - Stanaway was a second faster than the other drivers on the day.

$20,000 lure

The Huka Honda Motocross Extravaganza fires up this weekend with more than 400 top riders in Taupo seeking a share of the $20,000 prizemoney. Top Kiwi riders such as Ben Townley and Josh Coppins have previously won the race. This weekend Cam Dillon, Nick Saunders and last year's feature-race winner, Brad Groombridge, are sure to challenge.

Classic showdown

The NZ Classic Motor Cycle Racing Resister is holding the NZ Classic TT at Hampton Downs this weekend. Entries include the newly crowned triple Australian Classic and current NZ Superbike champion Andrew Stroud, riding a 500cc Manx Norton, and Nick Cole, the runner up in the Australian title and current 600cc NZ champion, who will be riding a 500cc Norton ES2.