Weekend Motorsports Preview: A Great Weekend for Auto Racing

It is a big weekend for international racing after two very light weeks. Formula 1 returns for the Hungarian Grand Prix, and there are races from NASCAR, Super GT and V8 Supercars. In other series, there is the 24 hours of Spa as part of the Blancpain Endurance Series and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Formula 1

F1 returns after a two-week hiatus for the Hungarian Grand Prix from the Hungaroring. Qualifying is Saturday, July 27, at 2pm local time (12pm GMT), and the race starts at the same time on Sunday.

In the two practice sessions on Friday, Red Bull has been fastest in both with Sebastian Vettel ahead of Mark Webber. Kimi Raikkonen was third fastest in the first practice session, and Romain Grosjean took third in the second practice session.

Red BullRed BullAustria, 2004 > present12 models
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has a commanding lead of the Constructors' Championship with no way for them to be knocked off, but just three points separate MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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and FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
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is second and third respectively. 

Vettel also has a lead in the Drivers' Championship standings with no way for him to be knocked off, but seven points separate Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen in second and third respectively. 

Enjoy the race this weekend because F1 takes a month off until the Belgian Grand Prix from Spa on August 25.

NASCAR

NASCAR heads to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a 400-mile race that will cover 160 laps around the historic track.

The race will start at 1pm local time (5pm GMT) on Sunday, July 28. 

Jimmie Johnson retains his points lead with 56 points more than Clint Bowyer in second, and Carl Edwards is in third a further 17 points behind.

Super GT

After a month off, Super GT returns this weekend for a race at Sportsland Sugo. 

The event begins at 2:00pm local time (5am GMT) with an 81-lap race around the 3.737km circuit.

Takuya Izawa and Takashi Kogure in a Honda HSV-10Honda HSV-010 GTJapan, 2010 > present4 photos
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currently lead the GT500 class. Katsuyuki Hiranaka and Bjorn Wirdheim in a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3Germany, 2011 > present19 photos
lead the GT300 class.

V8 Supercars

After a three-week break, the V8 Supercars head to Queensland Raceway for a three-race weekend. One 40-lap race will be on Saturday and two 32-lap races will be on Sunday around the 3.12km racetrack.

Jamie Whincup currently leads the championship.