CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Race 2 | Wharton triumphant after tense race in Taupo - Motorsport

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James Wharton delivered a controlled and decisive performance to secure his first victory in Race 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Taupo, mastering a race shaped by a reversed grid, sustained pressure at the front and multiple strategic turning points. Starting from the second row, the HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed driver capitalised on early positional changes and maintained relentless pressure on pole-sitter Kanato Le before executing a clean, race-winning move. Behind him, Ernesto Rivera and Ugo Ugochukwu fought a tense battle for the remaining podium positions, while penalties, pit strategies and recovery drives reshaped the order throughout the field. Despite investigations and late-race drama, Wharton controlled the closing stages to convert opportunity into victory, as the midfield remained fiercely contested and the lap record fell in a highly competitive Race 2.

Le on pole for Race 2

Just hours after Ryan Wood claimed his maiden CTFROT race win, the nineteen drivers lined up on the grid for the second race of the day. With the Race 2 grid set by the Race 1 result, with the top eight drivers reversed, Hitech TGR’s Kanato Le found himself on pole, alongside M2 Competition’s Ernesto Rivera. Just behind, James Wharton lined up third for HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed, while Zack Scoular took fourth for mtec Motorsport, placing two teams in strong positions to capitalise early.

Behind them, Louis Sharp started fifth for mtec Motorsport, ahead of Freddie Slater in sixth for M2 Competition, both having shown competitive pace in Race 1. Consequently, attention also turned to the drivers facing recovery drives, with Ugo Ugochukwu lining up seventh for M2 Competition and Race 1 winner Ryan Wood starting eighth in the lead mtec Motorsport car. Their presence in the reversed portion of the grid set the stage for aggressive but calculated progress through the pack.

Further back, Jin Nakamura headed the midfield from ninth for Hitech TGR, followed by Yuanpu Cui in tenth for mtec Motorsport. Yevan David started eleventh for Kiwi Motorsport, with Nolan Allaer twelfth for Giles Motorsport. The remaining rows featured Sebastian Mason for M2 Competition, Ricardo Baptista for HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed, and Jack Taylor for Giles Motorsport, while Kalle Rovanperä, Fionn McLaughlin, Cooper Shipman and Trevor LaTourrette completed a closely matched grid primed for overtaking.

With windier conditions and pit-stop strategy set to influence the race ahead, the 18-lap showdown promised unpredictability and excitement.

Le asserts control with clean launch

Ernesto Rivera made a strong start off the line, but Kanato Le immediately asserted control and held the lead into the first corner. Unlike Race 1, the opening metres produced little positional change, with only Nolan Allaer and Ricardo Baptista advancing. Allaer passed Yevan David for 11th, while Baptista moved ahead of Sebastian Mason for 13th. Although minor contact rippled through the pack, the field largely settled into single file by Turn 4.

Moments later, Jin Nakamura used his launch momentum to challenge Ryan Wood for eighth, but Wood held position. However, the complexion of the race soon changed as James Wharton surged into second by Lap 2. In contrast, Zack Scoular slipped down the order to ninth. At the same time, Ugo Ugochukwu and Nakamura gained ground to run fifth and sixth respectively, while Freddie Slater lost positions and dropped to seventh ahead of Wood in eighth.

Battles for position throughout the field

By Lap 4, Wharton closed to within 0.4 seconds of Le, placing sustained pressure on the race leader. Further back, Yuanpu Cui passed Scoular for ninth, while Baptista overtook David for 12th. Le then locked up under braking, briefly offering Wharton an opening, but the HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed driver could not convert and remained second into Lap 5.

As Wood lost another position to Cui, Race Control confirmed an investigation into a Lap 1 incident involving Slater and Scoular. Despite this, attention stayed on the tight battles, with Wood setting the fastest lap as gaps remained minimal. David later dropped to the back after running through the gravel and pitting for fresh tyres. Meanwhile, Baptista passed Allaer for 11th before Wood reclaimed eighth from Cui.

In the final sector shortly afterwards, Wharton finally seized the lead, while Louis Sharp applied pressure to Rivera in the fight for fourth. Sebastian Mason and Fionn McLaughlin pitted for new tyres to chase fast laps. On Lap 10, Slater passed Nakamura for sixth, as Wharton used clear air to open a two-second advantage. Rivera then capitalised on a lock-up from Le to move into second using push-to-pass.

Late-race drama redefines the order

Nakamura suffered front-wing damage after contact with Slater and pitted, while Race Control issued Slater a five-second time penalty. On Lap 12, Ugochukwu forced his way past Le to claim third. Rivera later slid at the final corner, allowing Ugochukwu to challenge, though Rivera defended successfully. Further back, Le dropped down the order, while Scoular set the fastest lap from 15th.

Although Rivera closed to within two seconds of Wharton late on, Wharton remained untroubled and secured his first victory. Behind, Wood passed Slater for fifth after another track limits warning. The top three positions held to the flag, with Scoular recording a 1:23.09 fastest lap to demolish the lap record. Investigations and penalties, however, left the finishing order unconfirmed.