Just hours after Louis Sharp secured victory in Race 1, mtec Motorsport continued its dominant start to the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Hampton Downs with Zack Scoular taking a commanding win in Race 2. The reverse-grid format placed Scoular on the front row, giving him an opportunity to seize the initiative from the lights. Amidst Safety Car interruptions, strategic retirements, and intense battles throughout the field, Scoular remained composed and controlled, converting his strong start into a decisive victory and delivering a clean sweep for the team on the opening day of the season.
Strong launch sets the tone
From the outset, Scoular emphasised the importance of executing a good start, which ultimately allowed him to take control of the race early on. While speaking to the media, he said
“Yeah, I mean, the goal in that race was just to get a good launch off the line, get into P1 and see what we can do from there.”
The front-row launch put him immediately in a position to dictate the pace, mirroring the decisive openings seen in Race 1, and gave him the confidence to manage the race ahead of him.
“So we got the launch that we were looking for, got into P1, got a small gap after the Safety Car, and then we were sort of just managing the gap from there.”
Managing the race from the front
Once in the lead, Scoular’s focus shifted from aggressive racing to smart race management. While the field behind him engaged in battles for position, he concentrated on preserving his tyres and keeping his pace consistent.
“I wouldn’t say there was too much pressure from behind, it was just managing the tyre, making sure it gets to the end, and yeah, we did it.”
Even with multiple incidents and strategic pit stops affecting drivers further back, Scoular maintained composure, allowing him to steadily extend his advantage without taking unnecessary risks.
Safety Car advantage
The race was briefly neutralised by a Safety Car, which in many situations can disrupt momentum. However, Scoular felt the interruption worked in his favour, particularly given mtec Motorsport’s tyre strategy for the race.
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t say so. It almost gave me a bit of an advantage. We went half new in that race, so it almost gave us a bit more time to get the left-side tyres in. So I wouldn’t say it disadvantaged me in any way.”
Rather than hindering him, the Safety Car allowed Scoular to restart with tyres in optimal condition and continue controlling the race.
A strong start for team and country
Scoular’s victory followed Sharp’s Race 1 win, giving mtec Motorsport consecutive wins to open the 2026 season. For Scoular, the results were a source of pride not just for the team, but for New Zealand motorsport. He emphasised the broader significance for Kiwi drivers, who dominated both opening races in front of a home crowd.
“Yeah, no, it’s really good. Obviously, last year we won the first race, and then this year we’ve won the first two races of the season. “Also really good for the Kiwis, you know, Kiwis winning the Race 1 and Race 2.”
Furthermore, with two wins from two races, mtec Motorsport leaves Hampton Downs with both confidence and momentum firmly on their side. Scoular highlighted the importance of maintaining focus and consistency for the remainder of the season.
“So, yeah, it’s a positive start to the year, and let’s just hope to keep going.”
The message from Race 2 was clear: a strong start, measured race management, and composure under pressure were enough to turn opportunity into victory, reinforcing mtec Motorsport’s status as a team to beat in 2026.
