HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed’s James Wharton offered a detailed and thoughtful insight into his breakthrough Race 2 victory at Taupo, outlining how comfort, confidence and strategy combined to deliver a defining moment in his 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) campaign. Speaking after the race, Wharton reflected on the progress made since arriving at the circuit and how early momentum shaped the entire weekend.
Comfort and continuity unlock performance
From the outset, Wharton stressed that Taupo has suited him immediately, allowing both driver and team to build confidence session by session. He pointed to internal changes and personal comfort as key reasons behind his sharp pace from Thursday onwards, setting a strong foundation for the weekend.
“Yeah, there have been a lot of changes inside the team as well going into this weekend. But for me, it’s about being comfortable on the track. And when the first lap is good, the weekend is normally really good.”
Building on that early momentum, Wharton reflected on a standout Friday performance, while also acknowledging that not everything fell into place when it mattered most earlier in the day.
“So yeah, really, really good day yesterday. The fastest yesterday, but this morning didn’t quite put it together from my side. And yeah, beating myself up about that for sure.”
However, rather than allowing frustration to linger, Wharton used Race 2 as an opportunity to respond in the best possible way, both for himself and for the team around him.
“But I feel like I’ve repaid the team this afternoon and put us in a spot where we have the confidence going into tomorrow that we have the car to win and we have the cars to be on pole. So that’s the plan tomorrow morning.”
That renewed confidence, Wharton explained, now extends beyond a single race result and into the team’s wider ambitions for the remainder of the Taupo weekend.
Patience over aggression in decisive opening stages
Although his launch and early positioning suggested an all-out attack, Wharton was keen to clarify that the race-winning move developed more organically than aggressively. He emphasised that the opening moments unfolded more by circumstance than design, setting the tone for a race built on patience rather than force.
“I’d love to say that was the plan, but not really. I just went into T1 and they overshot the braking, so it made me look a bit better. But yeah, at the end of the day, I knew the race was going to be long.”
With the race distance firmly in mind, Wharton then outlined how tyre strategy and flexibility shaped his decision-making, allowing him to adapt rather than commit too early.
“And at the end of the day, I had new tyres to try and do the best lap possible for race three. And the plan was just to get in the lead as soon as possible if I could, and if not, just try to get the fastest lap. But I saw we had a lot more pace over Kenato [Le], and he was really struggling today, so I just had to be patient.”
Once he finally moved to the front, Wharton shifted his focus to execution and maximising the opportunity in hand, while also keeping one eye on the next race.
“Once I got in the lead, [I] did the best lap I could, and on the second row beside Ryan [Wood] tomorrow, which is positive, and that’s what the plan was that race. So to get the win is just a bonus.”
By maintaining discipline and resisting unnecessary risks, Wharton converted pace into position, ensuring that victory came without compromising his prospects for the following race.
Push-to-pass shapes modern racecraft
Wharton also highlighted how push-to-pass has added a strategic dimension to racing at Taupo, particularly during his prolonged fight at the front. Understanding how rivals deployed the system proved decisive, reinforcing the importance of adaptability and tactical awareness.
“Yeah, to be honest, that’s why it took me so long to pass Kenato. He was using it really well today and putting me on the back foot. But once I understood what he was doing, it was quite easy to make the overtake with push-to-pass, and I feel like it’s making the racing a lot better, and it’s giving us an extra thing to think about, which is always good.”
Ultimately, Wharton’s reflections painted the picture of a driver growing in authority and maturity. With momentum building and belief firmly established, his Race 2 victory at Taupo may prove to be a pivotal moment in his 2026 CTFROT campaign.
