CTFROT | 2026 | Round 4 | Highlands

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Race 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) finale at Highlands Motorsport Park delivered drama from the opening lap to the chequered flag, as Kanato Le controlled proceedings from pole while incidents, investigations and two Safety Car periods shaped the fight behind. A decisive start, timely restarts and late neutralisation ultimately secured Le a lights-to-flag victory.

Le on pole; Wood qualifying disqualification still under review

Kanato Le lined up on pole for Hitech, alongside 2024 New Zealand Grand Prix winner Liam Sceats, competing for HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed. James Wharton returned to the series after missing Round 3 at Teretonga Park and started third for HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed, with mtec Motorsport’s Ryan Wood alongside him in P4.

Wood’s presence on the front two rows followed a complex qualifying saga. After disqualification from all qualifying sessions due to an alleged ride-height infringement, mtec Motorsport successfully appealed, allowing Wood to start Race 1. That race yielded a fifth-place finish and a reverse-grid P4 start for Race 2. Although Race Control reinstated Wood’s Q1 and Q2 times before the race, discussions regarding Q3 continued, with a final decision required ahead of the New Zealand Grand Prix.

Behind, M2 Competition’s Freddie Slater lined up fifth, with mtec Motorsport’s Louis Sharp alongside in P6. Hitech’s Jin Nakamura occupied P7, with Race 1 winner and Drivers’ Championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu starting eighth. The grid was completed by Yevan David, Nolan Allaer, Sebastian Manson, Yuanpu Cui and the remainder of a tightly packed midfield. Ernesto Rivera did not start following his Race 1 accident.

Le seizes the 2026 CTFROT Race 2 lead at Higlands as battles brew behind

As the lights went out, Le launched cleanly and immediately covered off Sceats, asserting control at the front. However, Sceats soon came under attack from Wharton, who swept past into the Bus Stop to claim second place.

Further back, contact between Sharp and Wood sent Wood across the grass and briefly airborne over the kerb. Although Wood rejoined without major damage, he dropped to sixth and immediately faced pressure from Ugochukwu and Nakamura, with Ugochukwu gaining a position off the line. Meanwhile, Sharp climbed to fourth, Slater settled into fifth, and Le began to stretch his advantage.

A moment of tension followed when Trevor LaTourrette slid into the gravel, briefly threatening a Safety Car. He recovered quickly, allowing Le to capitalise and extend his lead beyond one second.

Race Control soon announced an investigation into the Sharp–Wood collision, while Wood continued under scrutiny despite remaining competitive. Behind, Zack Scoular impressed by climbing from P16 to P11, running just behind Allaer after an aggressive opening phase.

Meanwhile, Sceats recovered from his slow start and set the fastest lap on Lap 3, re-establishing himself in podium contention. Sharp received a track limits warning shortly after, as officials also investigated a separate incident involving McLaughlin, Shipman and LaTourrette, although that inquiry had no impact on the leading fight.

By Lap 6, Scoular engaged in a spirited battle with David for eighth place. Although Scoular applied sustained pressure, David defended resolutely, while Allaer hovered just behind, drawing all three drivers into track limits scrutiny.

Momentum lost as Cui brings out the Safety Car

On Lap 7, Ugochukwu claimed the fastest lap but immediately received his second track limits warning. One lap later, Wood closed onto Slater after a minor mistake, prompting Slater to respond by setting the fastest lap and stabilising fifth place.

However, momentum halted when Yuanpu Cui lost the rear and became beached in the gravel. The incident triggered the first Safety Car, neutralising the race with just over half the distance remaining.

Le retains the lead on restart

The Safety Car peeled in at the end of Lap 13, and Le controlled the restart expertly, delaying his launch before accelerating cleanly onto Lap 14. Although Wharton matched his pace initially, Le retained command.

Behind, Ugochukwu pressured Wood for sixth, while Wood simultaneously eyed another move on Slater. Nakamura forced Ugochukwu into defence on the following lap, as David once again fended off Scoular. Shortly afterwards, Manson returned to the pit lane, becoming the third retirement.

Late Safety Car sees Le take the Race 2 win at Highlands

As Wharton and Sharp carefully managed their track limits warnings, late drama struck again. On the penultimate lap, Ricardo Baptista stranded his car in the gravel, prompting a second Safety Car.

With insufficient laps remaining, the race finished under Safety Car conditions. Le crossed the line in control, having led from lights out to secure victory in the CTFROT 2026 Highlands finale.