Pit Debrief

Motorsport news

Pit Debrief

Motorsport news

Category: Formula Regional

Formula Regional is an FIA-certified category of regional single-make F3 Championships, introduced in 2017 to bridge the performance gap between F4 and the global F3 Championship. Read the latest Formula Regional reports, news, opinions, and more by Pit Debrief.

Kalle Rovanperä reflects on tricky wet conditions at Teretonga Park, en route to his first single-seater podium in 2026 CTFROT.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Bruce Jenkins

Rovanperä reflects on “quite a tricky day” at Teretonga Park after claiming maiden single-seater podium in 2026 CTFROT

Karishma Persad03 mins

Kalle Rovanperä reached an important milestone at Teretonga Park by finishing third in Race 1 of Round 3 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT). In a weekend dominated by rain, red flags and constant uncertainty, the Hitech TGR driver combined patience and instinct to claim his first podium in single-seater racing….

Read Full News
Jin Nakamura reflects on red-flag qualifying, Turn 1 drama and a hard-earned P2 in a rain-soaked 2026 CTFROT weekend at Teretonga.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Bruce Jenkins

Nakamura believes first 2026 CTFROT win “is getting closer and closer” despite lack of pace at Teretonga Park

Karishma Persad03 mins

At Teretonga Park, Hitech TGR’s Jin Nakamura emerged from Round 3 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) with another podium finish but plenty to reflect on. A red-flagged qualifying session, persistent rain and a demanding circuit combined to test both confidence and consistency. Despite finishing second in Race 1, the Hitech…

Read Full News
Freddie Slater claims his first 2026 CTFROT win at Teretonga, mastering wet conditions and safety car restarts in Race 1.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

Wet weather precision at Teretonga Park delivers first 2026 CTFROT win for Slater

Karishma Persad05 mins

M2 Competition’s Freddie Slater produced a controlled and assured drive to secure his first victory of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT), mastering treacherous wet conditions at Teretonga Park. The M2 Competition driver kept his composure through multiple safety car periods, changing grip levels and constant interruptions to emerge as the standout…

Read Full News
Split pole positions at Yas Marina as Nakamura-Berta tops Qualifying 1 and Wheldon shines in a red-flag-hit Qualifying 2 of 2026 FRME Round 2.
Photo Credit: Formula Regional Middle East

FRME | 2026 | Round 2 | Yas Marina | Qualifying | Nakamura-Berta leads Q1, Wheldon stars after Q2 red flag

Karishma Persad07 mins

Qualifying for Round 2 of the 2026 Formula Regional Middle East (FRME) Trophy delivered a tightly contested and eventful morning at the Yas Marina Circuit, with two different drivers emerging on top across the twin sessions. Mumbai Falcons Racing’s Kean Nakamura-Berta secured pole position in Qualifying 1 for Race 1, while Sebastian Wheldon claimed pole…

Read Full News
2026 CTFROT Race 2 at Teretonga Park was abandoned after heavy rain, standing water and safety concerns prevented the event from starting.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hawks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Race 2 abandoned amid persistent wet conditions

Karishma Persad02 mins

Race officials abandoned the 2026 CTFROT Race 2 at Teretonga Park after persistent heavy rain and deteriorating track conditions prevented the event from starting. Officials reached the decision following a series of delays that left drivers waiting on track and in the pit lane, with safety concerns increasing as rainfall continued. Although organisers made repeated…

Read Full News
Freddie Slater navigated two safety car restarts to claim the victory in the wet weathered Race 1 at Teretonga in Round 3 of the 2026 CTFROT.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Bruce Jenkins

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Race 1 | Slater navigates multiple safety car restarts in the wet to claim his first CTFROT victory

Shania Wallage03 mins

Freddie Slater navigated two safety car restarts to claim the victory in the wet-weather Race 1 at Teretonga Raceway in Round 3 of the 2026 CTFROT. In the earlier Qualifying 1 session, Jin Nakamura initially set the fastest time to claim pole position. However, after triggering the third red flag of the session, he was…

Read Full News
Nakamura claimed pole position at the 2026 CTFROT Teretonga Qualifying 1 session, but brought out a red flag, dropping him down the order.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Qualifying 1 | Red-flag interrupted session sees Nakamura claim pole but Rivera to start Race 1 from the front

Shania Wallage02 mins

Jin Nakamura claimed his first pole position for the opening race of Round 3 for the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) Qualifying 1 session at Teretonga Raceway in New Zealand. In tricky wet conditions, Nakamura set the fastest time but caused the session’s third red flag, resulting in a three-place grid penalty…

Read Full News
Jin Nakamura tops crucial final practice at Teretonga as rain threat looms ahead of qualifying in Round 3 of the 2026 CTFROT.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

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

Karishma Persad04 mins

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…

Read Full News
M2 Competition's Ugo Ugochukwu tops Teretonga testing as CTFROT 2026 heads into Round 3 with title rivals closing in.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Testing | Ugochukwu on form as Teretonga Testing opens penultimate round

Karishma Persad04 mins

Championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu hit the ground running as the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) field arrived at Teretonga Park in Invercargill. Two collective test sessions on Thursday marked the build-up to Round 3, and the American immediately underlined why he remains the man to beat. Despite the circuit’s short lap –…

Read Full News
GRS Team has signed Andre Rodriguez for the 2026 EuroCup-3 season as the championship begins a new era with the Dallara 326.
Photo Credit: GRS Team

GRS Team confirms Andre Rodriguez for 2026 Eurocup-3 Season

Karishma Persad03 mins

GRS Team has confirmed Andre Rodriguez as its first driver for the 2026 Eurocup-3 season. The 17-year-old will represent the team during the opening year of the championship’s new era, competing in both the main Eurocup-3 campaign and the Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship. As a result, Rodriguez becomes a key figure in GRS Team’s preparations…

Read Full News