CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga

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After rain washed out Saturday’s action, Race 2 of the penultimate round of the 2026 CTFROT finally went green at a sodden Teretonga Park, delivering a tense and incident-filled contest. Despite repeated Safety Car interruptions and constant pressure from behind, championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu controlled proceedings from the front, converting pole position into a vital victory as several title rivals encountered trouble.

Ugochukwu on pole after Race 1 recovery

Ugochukwu started from pole position under the reverse-grid regulations, lining up alongside mtec Motorsport’s Ryan Wood on the front row. The M2 Competition driver had suffered an unlucky Qualifying 1, which left him P12 for Race 1, yet he fought through the wet conditions to finish eighth. That result promoted him to pole for Race 2, offering an immediate chance to recover lost ground.

Behind the front row, Kiwi Motorsport’s Cooper Shipman and Giles Motorsport’s Jack Taylor filled the second row. Hitech TGR teammates Kanato Le and Kalle Rovanperä occupied Row 3, with fellow Hitech driver Jin Nakamura starting just behind. Race 1 winner Freddie Slater lined up eighth, while the rest of the field formed up following a chaotic opening contest.

Wet conditions force caution before the start

With the track declared wet, officials once again disabled push-to-pass. Nevertheless, Race Control opted for a standing start. Heavy spray and standing water soon forced a second formation lap, granting drivers another opportunity for practice starts before they returned to their grid boxes to await the signal.

Clean launch for Ugochukwu as early drama unfolds

When the lights went out, Ugochukwu launched cleanly and immediately covered Wood to retain the lead. Wood remained close, yet Ugochukwu held firm. Behind them, Taylor seized the initiative by passing Shipman to move into third, while Shipman lost momentum after becoming boxed in.

Further back, drama erupted as Slater and Le ran side-by-side and slid off into the gravel. Both championship contenders beached their cars, prompting the deployment of the Safety Car. As a result, Sebastian Manson climbed from P10 to P7, Rovanperä advanced to P5, and Yevan David gained multiple positions.

Safety Car restart brings renewed battles

Race Control withdrew the Safety Car on Lap 6, allowing Ugochukwu to dictate the restart. He controlled the pace expertly and immediately began to pull clear. Taylor used the tow to pass Wood for second, while Shipman faced sustained pressure from Rovanperä, with Nakamura closing in behind.

Despite minor errors, Shipman defended resolutely, repeatedly denying Rovanperä through several corners. Meanwhile, Slater and Le rejoined laps down and shifted their focus to setting competitive lap times for Race 3 grid positioning, with Slater eventually setting the fastest lap of the race.

Further incidents disrupt the mid-race flow

As the leaders extended their advantage, the midfield battles intensified. On Lap 14, Nakamura briefly challenged Rovanperä before another Safety Car interrupted the action when Trevor LaTourrette went off and retired, becoming the first confirmed DNF of Race 2.

The race resumed on Lap 19, yet disorder quickly followed. Nakamura slid off and beached his car before the field reached the line, triggering another Safety Car. Officials referred an incident between Taylor and Shipman for investigation after Shipman emerged ahead in the fight for third. Race Control also placed Ricardo Baptista under investigation for a potential Safety Car infringement.

Late restart seals the outcome

On the penultimate lap, the Safety Car pulled in for the final time. Ugochukwu seized the moment, accelerating cleanly out of the final corner and immediately opening a decisive gap. Wood secured second place, while Shipman, Taylor and Rovanperä engaged in a fierce battle for the final podium position. Rovanperä attempted a move at Turn 7, but Taylor defended robustly, allowing Shipman to maintain track position.

Out front, Ugochukwu removed any remaining doubt by setting the fastest lap of the race, a 59.683, as he crossed the line to claim a commanding victory. Wood followed in second, while Shipman held on for third to secure his first podium of the season, ahead of Taylor and Rovanperä.