CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Practice | Nakamura tops crucial final practice as rain looms - Motorsport

Spread the love

Jin Nakamura set the benchmark when it mattered most at Teretonga Park, as teams prepared for the third round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT). With rain threatening Invercargill and potentially disrupting Saturday qualifying, organisers allowed teams to treat the final session as a de facto grid-setter for Race 1. As a result, the entire field attacked FP3 with qualifying intent.

Pressure brings the best in FP3

Initially, most drivers circulated on used tyres while fuel loads came down. During that phase, M2 Competition drivers Freddie Slater and Ugo Ugochukwu controlled the pace. However, once teams bolted on new rubber late in the session, Nakamura delivered when it counted.

The Hitech driver produced a stunning 53.749s lap around the compact 2.57km circuit, handling the pressure better than anyone else. Consequently, he ended the day fastest overall. Slater responded strongly to secure second, while Hitech team-mate Kanato Le completed the top three.

Behind them, Sebastian Manson impressed with fourth place. Meanwhile, Ugochukwu and Ernesto Rivera rounded out the leading six after solid runs for M2 Competition.

Notably, the high-pressure environment also suited two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä. With under five minutes remaining, he vaulted into the top six and briefly closed to within three tenths of the fastest time. Although others improved again, he still finished a credible tenth, marking his closest approach yet to the sharp end of the timesheets.

Slippery start and red flags in FP1

Earlier in the day, FP1 began on a wet track. Although rain stayed away, the surface dried slowly and remained treacherous. Two red flags interrupted the session and shaped the running.

Turn one caused the first stoppage when Trevor LaTourette spun, forcing Ryan Wood off in sympathy. Importantly, no contact occurred, and both cars returned without damage. Later, Ernesto Rivera slid off at the same corner, triggering another red flag and ending the session early, again without consequences.

Despite the conditions, Freddie Slater attacked relentlessly. Many teams, including M2 Competition, opted for higher downforce. Ultimately, Rivera emerged as second fastest, while Hitech’s Fionn McLaughlin claimed third and visibly enjoyed the tricky conditions.

Once again, championship leader Ugochukwu featured near the front in fourth. Louis Sharp delivered a tidy session for mtec Motorsport, while Giles Motorsport duo Nolan Allaer and Jack Taylor looked particularly strong during the wettest phase.

Sharp shines in tight FP2 battle

Conditions improved significantly for FP2, and lap times tumbled. Moreover, the field remained incredibly close, with just nine-tenths separating first from seventeenth.

Louis Sharp continued his strong form from Thursday and dipped under the 54-second mark to top the session. However, he only edged Nakamura and Zac Scoular by four hundredths. Ugochukwu and Slater followed closely, just over the 54-second threshold.

Although Sharp’s lap ranked among the fastest of the entire day, he could not replicate it in FP3 and slipped to eleventh in the final session.

Elsewhere, Yuanpu Cui slotted into sixth, while IndyNXT racer Nolan Allaer once again impressed with seventh, holding his own against much younger rivals.

Mixed fortunes across the field

In contrast, Ryan Wood endured a difficult Friday. His FP1 off-track excursion limited his running, and he never fully recovered the pace. As a result, he finished FP3 in sixteenth, leaving him with work to do if he hopes to build on his Taupo feature race victory.

Meanwhile, drivers such as Rivera, McLaughlin and Manson showed steady progress across the day, underlining the depth and competitiveness of the field.

Looking ahead to Saturday

Saturday promises qualifying and the first two races of the weekend. Although forecasts still hint at unsettled weather, teams now hold crucial data from a day that tested adaptability, nerve and outright speed. If Friday proved anything, it showed that Teretonga will reward those who thrive under pressure—and Jin Nakamura has already fired the first warning shot.