Alternative Motorsport Events to Watch During F1's April Break

With Formula 1 on a four-weekend hiatus after the Japanese Grand Prix, motorsport fans have a packed schedule of alternative racing series to follow throughout April, from endurance classics in Australia to premier events in IndyCar and MotoGP.

Why it matters:

The break in the F1 calendar provides a perfect opportunity for fans to explore the depth and diversity of global motorsport. These events showcase different racing philosophies, from production car battles to prototype endurance racing, offering a refreshing change of pace and highlighting stars and stories outside the F1 spotlight.

The Details:

• Bathurst 6 Hour (April 4-6): The production car endurance race at Mount Panorama features a massive 70-car grid, evoking the spirit of the Bathurst 1000's early days. The entry list is bolstered by current and former Supercars drivers like Will Davison, Thomas Randle, and Jack Le Brocq.
• Supercars Championship: A double-header in New Zealand kicks off with the Taupo SuperSprint (April 10-12), followed by the inaugural South Island event in Christchurch (April 17-19), marking a significant return for the category across the Tasman.
• IndyCar Series (April 20 AEST): The series heads to the iconic streets of Long Beach. Andretti Global enters as the team to beat, having won five of the last seven editions, with drivers like Will Power and Marcus Ericsson expected to contend for the win.
• GT World Challenge: The season begins on two continents. The Asian series starts at Sepang (April 3-5) with Kiwis Jaxon Evans and Brendon Leitch, while the European Endurance Cup opens with a 6-hour race at Paul Ricard (April 10-12), featuring Australian Calan Williams.
• FIA World Endurance Championship: The Hypercar era's most competitive field yet—featuring 17 cars from eight manufacturers—begins its season with the 6 Hours of Imola (April 19). New Zealand is well-represented with Brendon Hartley (Toyota), Earl Bamber (Cadillac), and Nick Cassidy (Peugeot).
• MotoGP (April 24-26): The championship arrives in Europe at Jerez, Spain. After Ducati's 2025 dominance, Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi has emerged as the early title threat in 2026, though inconsistent sprint race results have kept the competition close.
• NASCAR Cup Series: The month features critical oval races at Bristol (April 13), Kansas (April 20), and Talladega (April 27). Shane van Gisbergen, coming off a career-best short oval result, will look to continue his adaptation on this challenging swing of tracks.

What's next:

April's diverse racing slate ensures there is no shortage of on-track action for motorsport enthusiasts. As these series set their early-season narratives, the focus will quickly return to Formula 1, which resumes with the Chinese Grand Prix in late April, bringing the global racing calendar full circle.