CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Practice | Wood sets the early pace amid mixed conditions and disruptions - Motorsport

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Ryan Wood laid down a clear marker ahead of Round 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) by topping two of Friday’s three practice sessions at Taupo. In doing so, the mtec Motorsport driver underlined his intent to bounce back strongly after his premature exit from the final feature race at Hampton Downs last weekend.

From the outset, Wood looked comfortable in changing conditions and carried that momentum through the day. As a result, he emerged as the reference point in one of the most competitive Formula Regional fields seen in recent years.

FP1: A strong start on a mixed track

Initially, FP1 presented a tricky challenge, with damp patches lingering across parts of the circuit. Nevertheless, Wood attacked the session with confidence, quickly finding the limit and stringing together a series of fast laps. His early pace gave him a sizeable advantage of around half a second.

However, as the circuit dried and a clear racing line developed, James Wharton closed the gap. The Australian, driving for TJ Speed with HMD Motorsports, finished the session just a tenth adrift of Wood. Meanwhile, Briton Freddie Slater impressed in third for M2 Competition, while Yevan David continued his strong form by placing fourth for Kiwi Motorsport.

Behind them, Jin Nakamura and Louis Sharp completed the top six, while round one pacesetter Ugo Ugochukwu ended the session eighth. Further back, two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä showed promise early on in the damp conditions, briefly running inside the top six, before settling into 12th as the track fully dried. Even so, he continued to edge closer to the front in a fiercely contested field.

FP2: Fresh tyres, faster laps

Subsequently, FP2 saw a noticeable step up in intensity. With teams benefitting from an increased tyre allocation compared to last season, all drivers returned to the track on fresh rubber. Some also ran heavier fuel loads, adding another layer to the session’s narrative.

By the end, Wharton claimed the fastest time, clearly enjoying the car, the tyres and the fully dry conditions. Even so, Wood remained firmly in the hunt by finishing second. Close behind, mtec Motorsport team-mates Zack Scoular and Louis Sharp delivered strong performances in third and fourth.

Nakamura slotted into fifth for Hitech, followed by David and Slater. Notably, Ugochukwu climbed to eighth despite carrying more fuel than most of his rivals, hinting at strong underlying pace. Kanato Le and Sebastian Manson rounded out the top ten, reinforcing the depth of competition across the field.

FP3: Disrupted final session still favours Wood

Later in the day, FP3 focused on simulated qualifying runs. Unfortunately, widespread lap deletions for exceeding track limits at the high-speed right-hand Turn 9 heavily distorted the results. As a consequence, the final order proved largely unrepresentative.

Despite the disruption, Wood retained the fastest time once officials removed the offending laps. Slater and Wharton followed him, while Nakamura and Ugochukwu completed the top five. Although the session offered limited clarity, Wood’s name once again sat at the top of the timesheets.

Eyes on Saturday’s showdown

Looking ahead, attention now turns to Saturday, when the competitive action truly begins. The schedule features qualifying, the opening race, and a second race later in the day. Importantly, race two will use a reverse grid for the top eight finishers from Race 1, promising close racing and strategic intrigue.

With Wood and Wharton already trading blows, and several others poised to strike, the stage appears set for a compelling weekend of Formula Regional racing.