New Zealand’s premier single-seater category attracts drivers from around the world to compete in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship. In 2026, the series will mark its 21st season, with the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) contested across four rounds and offering valuable winter training during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
The championship holds official FIA recognition as one of six Formula Regional series worldwide and represents a key development step for young drivers progressing through the single-seater pathway.
Still wanting more information? Find out everything on the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy below.
2026 calendar, chassis and teams
In its 21st year, Formula Regional Oceania will run four back-to-back rounds across New Zealand, reduced from five races. The championship begins with Round 1 at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park from 9–11 January, before concluding with Round 4 at Highlands Motorsport Park from 30 January to 1 February.
CTFROT will continue to run the FT-60 chassis in 2026, the third car platform used across nearly two decades of the championship. The FT-60 incorporates the latest FIA safety initiatives developed in conjunction with Formula 1, ensuring the series remains aligned with modern international single-seater standards.
Sustainability remains a key focus, with the cars running on 100 per cent fossil-free synthetic fuel that delivers a 77.4 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to conventional petrol. Introduced in 2024, the transition required only minimal engine-mapping changes, maintaining performance while significantly reducing environmental impact.
Two notable technical updates will also shape the 2026 season. A push-to-pass system will debut, giving drivers a limited-use 25-horsepower boost to aid overtaking and enhance race strategy. Meanwhile, tyre allocation will increase from three to five sets per driver per event, providing greater flexibility in setup choices and race execution.
The grid will also expand in 2026, with two new teams joining the championship. Giles Motorsport, Kiwi Motorsport, M2 Competition and mtec Motorsport will return, while Hitech and TJ Speed/HMD Motorsport will make their debut appearances, further strengthening the depth and competitiveness of the field.
Weekend format
The CTFROT 2026 format will feature a tightly condensed four-week, back-to-back schedule, designed to maximise on-track running while avoiding clashes with northern hemisphere winter programmes such as Indy NXT testing and European junior single-seater championships.
Across the four rounds, drivers will benefit from an extensive workload, with more than 3,000 kilometres covered and approximately 1,350 minutes of track time on offer.
Each race weekend follows a comprehensive four-day format. Action begins on Thursday with two 30-minute test sessions, allowing teams to establish baseline setups, followed by a dedicated practice start session. Friday then delivers three further 30-minute practice sessions, giving drivers ample opportunity to fine-tune race pace, tyre management and long-run consistency.
Saturday shifts the focus to competition, opening with a 15-minute qualifying session that sets the grid for Race 1. Later in the day, Race 2 adds a strategic element, with its starting order determined by a reverse grid of the top eight finishers from Race 1, encouraging overtaking and rewarding race craft.
Sunday features a second 15-minute qualifying session, which plays a decisive role in the remainder of the weekend. Race 3 follows, with the grid set by drivers’ combined fastest laps from Races 1 and 2, before the event concludes with Race 4, the Feature Race, where the grid is set by the results of Qualifying 2. This structure places a premium on outright pace while still allowing recovery opportunities across the weekend.
The final round of CTFROT 2026 will operate under a slightly modified format, as it forms part of the prestigious 70th New Zealand Grand Prix weekend. That event will follow a Formula 1-style structure, further elevating the stakes and offering drivers the experience of competing within a marquee international race environment.
Points and titles up for grabs for the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy
CTFROT is an established championship that not only serves as a competitive single-seater platform but also contributes valuable points towards the FIA Super Licence, helping drivers progress toward Formula 1.
Super License points in the championship are awarded to the top six finishers as follows:
- 6 points
- 5 points
- 4 points
- 3 points
- 2 points
- 1 point
Feature Race winners also receive prize money, adding further incentive to perform at the front of the field. For standard Feature Races, the winner receives NZD $2,500, with second place earning $1,500 and third place $1,000.
Several iconic trophies are awarded throughout the series, with each carrying significant historical value in New Zealand motorsport. These include the Spirit of a Nation Cup, Lady Wigram Trophy, Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup, New Zealand Motor Cup, Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy, and the prestigious New Zealand Grand Prix.
Prize money for the New Zealand Grand Prix increases to reflect its status as the championship’s flagship event, with the winner receiving NZD $5,000, making it the most lucrative and coveted race of the season.
FROT history and champions
Before becoming the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Champion, Lando Norris claimed his first single-seater championship outside Great Britain by winning the formerly known Toyota Racing Series in 2016.
The series has since served as a proven stepping stone to Formula 1, with past and current F1 drivers including Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto and Zhou Guanyu all having competed in the championship. Most recently, 2026 Formula 1 rookie Arvid Lindblad captured the 2025 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania title, continuing the series’ strong record of producing top-level talent.
Several drivers set to compete in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship will also participate in the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy. Names on the entry list include Fionn McLaughlin, Ugo Ugochukwu, Freddie Slater, James Wharton, and Ernesto Rivera, who will use the series as valuable preparation for their upcoming F3 campaigns.
