CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga

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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 for Race 1.

James Wharton will not be taking part in this weekend with previous FIA Formula 3 duties to fulfil.

Wet conditions out on track, 3 red flags during the short session

As drivers began their warm-up laps, the finely balanced conditions left little margin for error between staying on track and finding the wall. Nolan Allaer from Giles Motorsport was the first to be caught out, running wide at Turn 1 and making contact with the barriers, which brought out a red flag for recovery.

Once on-track action resumed, Fionn McLaughlin was the next driver to encounter trouble at the same corner. On his out lap, he found the gravel at Turn 1, bringing the recovery vehicle back out and causing a second interruption to the session.

Almost immediately after the track went green again, Jin Nakamura became the third and final driver to hit the wall at Turn 1, triggering another red flag that effectively brought the session to a close. Although Nakamura had set the fastest lap and provisionally secured pole position, he was handed a three-place grid penalty for Race 1 for causing the red flag, dropping him to P4 on the starting grid. Ernesto Rivera finished in P2, with Freddie Slater in P3.

Both Allaer and McLaughlin also received 3-place grid penalties for bringing out the earlier red flags.