Pit Debrief

James Wharton secured his first 2026 CTFROT win at Taupo, mastering a reversed grid Race 2 filled with pressure, penalties and late drama.

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

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago05 mins

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…

Ryan Wood wins Race 1 at Taupo in 2026 CTFROT Round 2, with Ugochukwu 2nd and Slater completing the podium after an intense battle.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Race 1 | Wood continues dominant weekend in Taupo with Race 1 win

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago04 mins

Ryan Wood delivered a calm and authoritative drive to win Race 1 of Round 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Taupo. The mtec Motorsport driver recovered from a brief loss of the lead at the start to reassert control and steadily pull clear. Behind him, Ugo Ugochukwu converted a…

Ryan Wood snatches late pole at Taupo in Qualifying 1 as Ugochukwu and Scoular close in for Round 2 of the 2026 CTFROT.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Qualifying 1 | Wood delivers late lap to claim pole for Race 1

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago04 mins

Ryan Wood claimed pole position for the opening race of Round 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT)after a dramatic Qualifying 1 session at Taupo International Motorsport Park. Following an already impressive Friday, the mtec Motorsport driver confirmed his status as the man to beat with a blistering final flying lap…

Ryan Wood tops two Taupo practice sessions as Wharton and Slater close in ahead of Round 2 of the 2026 CTFROT.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Practice | Wood sets the early pace amid mixed conditions and disruptions

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago04 mins

Ryan Wood laid down a clear marker ahead of Round 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) by topping two of Friday’s three practice sessions at Taupo. In doing so, the mtec Motorsport driver underlined his intent to bounce back strongly after his premature exit from the final feature race at…

Rain-soaked Taupo testing sets the tone for CTFROT 2026 Round 2 as Sharp and David shine, fans rally, and teams prepare for a wet weekend.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Testing | Sharp and David shine amidst damp conditions

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago03 mins

As preparations continued for Round 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT), rain and damp conditions quickly became the defining theme of the Collective Test sessions at Taupo. From the outset, persistent showers swept across the 3.3km circuit, ensuring that both sessions unfolded on a wet track. Consequently, outright lap times…

Ugo Ugochukwu leads the 2026 CTFROT standings after a dramatic Hampton Downs opener, with M2 Competition topping the teams’ race.

CTFROT 2026: Standings after Round 1 | Ugochukwu emerges as early benchmark after Hampton Downs opener

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago05 mins

After a dramatic and action-packed opening round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Hampton Downs, Ugo Ugochukwu leads both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championship narratives. Across four races, the M2 Competition driver delivered relentless pace, racecraft and consistency, leaving Round 1 with a commanding points advantage and early momentum in…

Ugochukwu wins twice in CTFROT 2026 as Toyota FT60 cars run FU3L fuel, highlighting Toyota’s commitment to sustainability in motorsport.

FU3L fuel powers Toyota FT60 cars seamlessly in CTFROT 2026 as global push for sustainability in motorsport continues

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago03 mins

American rising star Ugo Ugochukwu stamped his authority on the opening round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Hampton Downs, taking two race wins and the early championship lead. While his focus was firmly on the track, the 2026 CTFROT weekend marked a significant moment for Toyota, New Zealand motorsport,…

Push-to-pass reshapes race strategy at Hampton Downs as drivers react to its debut during the opening round of CTFROT 2026.

Push-to-pass debut transforms race strategy in CTFROT 2026

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago06 mins

The opening round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CRFROT) introduced a fundamental change in how drivers approach racing in the championship. With the debut of the push-to-pass system, competitors gained access to a limited-use 25-horsepower boost designed to improve overtaking and inject greater strategic depth into each race. Combined with an…

Jack Taylor reflects on a tough but intense 15th-to-8th recovery drive during an action-packed 2026 CTFROT weekend in New Zealand.

Jack Taylor shines with 15th-to-8th charge at Hampton Downs on opening 2026 CTFROT weekend

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago04 mins

Jack Taylor delivered one of the most eye-catching drives of the opening weekend of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Hampton Downs, fighting from 15th to eighth in Race 2 after a challenging start to his New Zealand campaign. The Australian driver’s recovery stood out amid a weekend defined by contrasting…

Freddie Slater fights hard at Hampton Downs, defending relentlessly to secure a podium in Race 2 of the 2026 CTFROT opener.

“We had to fight quite hard for that one” – Slater reflects on CTFROT podium finish at Hampton Downs

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago05 mins

Freddie Slater delivered a strong performance in Race 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Hampton Downs, climbing from sixth in the opening race to claim a well-earned third place. Driving for M2 Competition, the Kiwi showcased resilience, composure, and defensive skill on one of New Zealand’s most challenging circuits….