Latest news with #NewZealander
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Scoop
Jacob Douglas Targets Big Results At Road America After Dominant Test Pace
New Zealand's Jacob Douglas heads to Road America this weekend for what could be a pivotal round in the USF Pro 2000 Championship presented by Continental Tires, coming oƯ a dominant performance in pre-event testing. Driving for Pabst Racing, Douglas topped three of the six sessions and finished second in the others, becoming one of only two drivers to break the 2:01 barrier around the iconic 4.01-mile (6.45km), 14-turn circuit. Currently sitting fifth in the championship standings, Douglas has been one of the standout performers of 2025, with a maiden series victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a podium finish in St. Petersburg, and a string of top-five and top-ten finishes that have kept him within striking distance of the title contenders. With teammate Max Garcia leading the standings on 231 points, Douglas trails by 90 — but with 98 points on oƯer this weekend alone, the New Zealander is focused on closing the gap. 'We've made big gains all season in pace, consistency, and execution,' said Douglas. 'Now it's about putting that together. We know Road America suits us, and if we qualify well, we'll be right in the mix for the podium.' Douglas describes Road America as one of the best tracks in North America. 'It's fast, flowing, and super technical. It rewards confidence and commitment, and after how strong we were in testing, I'm coming into the weekend with a really positive mindset. 'This is one of those tracks where if you're in the zone, you can make big things happen.' The Wisconsin circuit holds special significance for Douglas, who scored his first-ever USF 2000 top-ten at the track in 2022 and returned in 2023 to take his maiden podium while debuting with Pabst Racing. 'I've always enjoyed racing here,' he added. 'There's just something about this place that clicks with me. The atmosphere, the challenge — it brings out the best in drivers. I've had some great memories here already, and now I want to add to them.' With just four race weekends remaining — all running on the support bill of the NTT IndyCar Series — Douglas and his team are pushing hard on all fronts, both on the track and oƯ it. While much of the season's backing is already in place, a final push is now critical to ensure the campaign can be completed in full. 'We've had amazing support so far, and I'm incredibly grateful for everyone who's been part of the journey,' said Douglas. 'But to be completely transparent, we still need to secure one or two key partners to see out the rest of the season.' 'These last events are high-profile, high-stakes rounds — perfect for brands wanting to make an impact with a fast-rising driver and a championship-winning team. The opportunity is right here, right now, and we need to make it happen.' This weekend's action at Road America begins with a pair of test sessions on Thursday local time, before two qualifying sessions on Friday at 11.20 am and 1.35 pm CST (Saturday 4.20 am & 6.35 am NZST). Saturday sees the first two races at 8.00 am and 4.25 pm CST (Sunday 1.00 am & 9.25 am NZST) before Sunday's finale at 7.55 am (Monday 12.55 am NZST). Fans can watch all the action live on the USF Pro Championships YouTube channel, while Douglas shares real-time updates and behind-the-scenes content across his social media platforms. About Jacob Douglas: Jacob Douglas is a 19-year-old racecar driver from New Zealand. He is a multiple-time national champion in karting and was the 2023 USF YACademy Champion. He took 11 podiums, including seven wins, in USF 2000 machinery in the United States in 2023, before making two GB3 cameos in 2024. He is a member of New Zealand's prestigious Elite Motorsport Academy, winning the renowned Bruce McLaren and Ian Snellgrove trophies among the Class of 2024 In 2025, he returns to North America to compete his rookie season in the USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires. Where to watch: The USF Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Continental Tires can be viewed live on the USF Pro Championships YouTube channel.
Irish Examiner
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Paddon targets Donegal success on first competitive Irish outing
Reigning and double European Rally Champion, New Zealander Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) gets his first competitive taste of Irish rallying shortly after eleven o'clock on Friday on the 14.3km Malin Head stage, the first of the weekend's twenty stages of the Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally. Although the three-day Letterkenny-based event is the fourth round of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the fact that both Keith Cronin and Matt Edwards, have for different reasons, paused their rallying, some of the usual shine has been taken from the series. However, the presence of Paddon along with Kesh driver Jon Armstrong and Moira's William Creighton has cranked up the competition level in the north-west. Paddon has faced both and indeed top seed Callum Devine in last year's Rali Ceredigion in Wales, where the New Zealander took a comfortable victory. However, Donegal will be very different as Paddon told the Irish Examiner yesterday morning. "We (with his Cork born co-driver David Moynihan) have just completed all our recce (reconnaissance), the stages are very fast and technical at the same time. It's going to be very difficult to be at the same speed as the locals when you don't have the knowledge of the roads. We're going to do the best job we can but its difficult when you don't have the experience. Ceredigion was even, we had the same amount of experience but coming here is different as they (local drivers) know the roads so well and we have respect for that. "First and foremost we've come here to enjoy ourselves. The second pass through the stages will be quicker, but until you actually drive them for the first time and have a feel of all the bumps and how the car reacts you don't know. For sure on the second pass you would be more confident." He concluded: "It's a big challenge for us both, obviously Dave (co-driver) has got to learn my pacenote system and for me it's a different voice that you hear in the intercom and how I interpret the words. A challenge is good, it makes it more exciting." Paddon will try and add his name to other luminaries that have triumphed in Donegal like Achim Armbold (1975), Ari Vatanen (1978) and Sebastien Loeb (2007) all of whom have added to the event's legendary status. Top seed Devine will be followed off the start line by Jon Armstrong - fresh from a fine third place on last weekend's Rally Poland and without the shackles of a championship bid, he's unlikely to hold back. In any case, such is the pace, there's no time to adopt a wait and see process when seconds or even parts of, are crucial. Creighton missed the last round of the BRC but arrives in Donegal as leader of the BRC courtesy of his victory in the East Riding Stages and second on the Carlisle Stages. At the wheel of the MEM Castrol-backed Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, he is fulfilling a personal desire. "Donegal is a rally that I've always wanted to contest in a Rally2 car. It's such a special event for Irish rallying and the atmosphere is second to none. The pace at the front of the ITRC is very strong. There's no room for error. It's important to find a good rhythm from the beginning of the rally. But that's what makes it such a brilliant challenge." Others in the top ten are Monaghan's Josh Moffett (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Welsh ace Meirion Evans in the second of the MEM Castrol Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 cars, who will be aiming to go one better than last year when he finished 17.4s behind Devine. "I'm happy with where I am with the Yaris Rally2 at the moment and I hope I can translate that into a really strong performance again. Our speed on the Rally of the Lakes in Killarney was really good and we managed to move our pace forward a bit more on the Jim Clark Rally. It would be great to go one better this time." Today's first leg is a loop of three stages repeated twice with servicing in Carndonagh.
NZ Herald
11 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Rob McCallum, the Kiwi adventurer who tried to stop Stockton Rush's Titan OceanGate disaster
Rob McCallum discusses 11,000m dives, Titanic and the deadly deep-sea insanity of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. New Zealander Rob McCallum is a pioneer of deep-sea diving. He's broken the record for the deepest dive in the Mariana Trench – almost 11,000m below sea level. He's worked with the
Otago Daily Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
World-class squash comes to Temuka
An international-level squash spectacle is coming to Temuka next week. As a way to celebrate 50 years of Temuka Squash, the South Canterbury town will be hosting the Trust Aoraki Midlands Professional Squash Association and District Squash Open. Players from 14 different nationalities will be competing in a specially installed glass court at 2 King St from June 25-29. Tournament director and Squash Midlands district manager Vicki Rae said the glass court had been transported from Christchurch after it was used at the New Zealand Squash Open earlier this year. "It's a real spectacle. It was used at the Isaac Theatre Royal, and it was the first time the glass court had ever been erected in the South Island. "It takes four days to build and we had to fly in a specialist from the UK [United Kingdom] to lead the build. "It's a real coup for us and I had to do a lot of begging behind the scenes to get it here." The top seeded players in the men's draw include former junior world No1 Rowan Damming, from the Netherlands, and New Zealander Elijah Thomas, who is ranked just outside the top 100. The women's entry list is headed by New Zealand's Ella Lash who has a world ranking of 127 and will face competition from second seed Kincso Szasz from Hungary. Alongside the international PSA competition, players from Timaru, Temuka, and Pleasant Point will be going head to head in the district open. Rae said it was great to be able to hold such a high level tournament in Temuka. "The Temuka club really pushed for this and have been so supportive. A lot of local sponsors came on board as well to make this all happen. "We've also managed to build some things around it. We have got schools from the local area coming to the venue and being involved in interactive activities and watching matches. "For a small country town to host an event of this calibre is a major coup. The event is for the whole community not just squash players and we are excited to showcase our great sport." She said she expected the tournament to have a great atmosphere. "Having it in a storage facility sounds terrible when you try to explain it but the building is not very old and how it is going to look inside will just be awesome. "We've got light shows, DJ music, food carts outside and the The Brad Staley Trio will be playing on Saturday night. There is going to be a real party vibe." General admission is free for the opening rounds on Wednesday and Thursday and two sessions will take place each day from 11.45am-3pm and 5.15-8.30pm. For the knockout rounds on Friday, Saturday and Sunday general admission tickets cost $10 and a $25 ticket is available for the Saturday night celebration featuring The Brad Staley Trio. The Friday session will run from 11.45am-9pm, the Saturday session will take place from noon-8pm, and the finals on Sunday will begin at 9am. Corporate tables are also available for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are available from eventbrite.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Derek Chisora handed heavyweight title lifeline after WBO verdict on Joseph Parker trilogy
Derek Chisora has been handed a world-title fight lifeline, with the WBO green-lighting a trilogy fight against Joseph Parker. With WBO interim heavyweight champion Parker set for a return in September, a third fight with Chisora could be on the cards. Advertisement World Boxing Organisation (WBO) president Gustavo Olivieri revealed to Sky Sports that 'Parker may defend his interim title against any of the top-15 WBO world-rated contenders'. Chisora is now the WBO's seventh-ranked heavyweight boxer, and has seen his upcoming career prospects boosted by the organisation saying it would sanction a challenge to the New Zealander Parker. The Briton's next fight will be his 50th and likely final, with 36 wins and 13 losses next to his name to date. Frank Warren-fronted Queensberry promotions, who represent both Chisora and Parker, are putting plans together for the coming months, with the latter scheduled as the next mandatory challenger to unified champ Oleksandr Usyk, who defends against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on 19 July. Advertisement Parker's representative David Higgins has confirmed that the 33-year-old Kiwi would be open to a third fight with Chisora, when speaking to Sky Sports. Joseph Parker is the Interim Champion and mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk's title (REUTERS) Parker has already beaten Chisora twice, with a split decision in 2021 and unanimous decision the following year. Since then, he has piled on victories over the likes of Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole. Chisora, now 41, has lost just once since being felled by former WBO champion Parker twice in succession, with victories over Kubrat Pulev, Gerald Washington, Joe Joyce, and most recently Otto Wallin in February. He last challenged for heavyweight gold in December 2022, when Tyson Fury stopped him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to retain his WBC crown.
