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

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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 – comfortably under 60 seconds – Teretonga is one of the most demanding venues on the calendar. Its flowing corners and the longest straight of the season place extra emphasis on racecraft and on the series’ new push-to-pass system, which is expected to play a decisive role this weekend.

Ugochukwu adapts quickly to a unique challenge

After racing at Hampton Downs and Taupo, Teretonga offered a very different test. Nevertheless, Ugochukwu adapted swiftly. Driving for M2 Competition, he finished second in the opening session before topping the timesheets in the afternoon.

Louis Sharp narrowly edged him in Collective Test 1, but Ugochukwu had already shown strong pace early on. By the second session, he looked fully comfortable and laid down the benchmark for the rest of the field.

Another solid weekend at Taupo allowed Ugochukwu to retain the championship lead, now by 33 points. However, that margin does not tell the full story. At one stage last weekend he held a 48-point advantage, yet five drivers now sit within that window, keeping the title fight wide open.

Strong showing from M2 Competition and rivals

M2 Competition enjoyed a productive opening day overall. Freddie Slater demonstrated impressive speed by finishing fifth in the first session and second in the second, while Red Bull Junior Ernesto Rivera climbed to fourth in the afternoon.

Behind them, mtec Motorsport’s Ryan Wood eased himself into the weekend with eighth and fifth fastest times. Although new to single-seaters, the Supercars race winner continues to impress and remains one of the championship’s most intriguing contenders.

Sharp backed up his session-one best with another top-ten effort later in the day, maintaining his reputation for consistency.

Hitech eyes a breakthrough at the southern circuit

Hitech’s trio again looked competitive. Kanato Le and Jin Nakamura were quick in both sessions and remain firmly in the hunt for a first victory of the season. Le, in particular, stands out as Ugochukwu’s closest challenger in the points.

Fionn McLaughlin, the second Red Bull Junior in the field, also had a positive day. He ran consistently inside the top ten and finished ninth in the first session and sixth in the second, suggesting he could play a bigger role as the weekend unfolds.

Further down the order, Nolan Allaer continued his steady progress, while rally legend Kalle Rovanperä showed flashes of speed once again. With wet weather likely at some stage, his performance could yet prove significant.

All to play for heading into Practice and Qualifying

Friday will see three official practice sessions around the 2.57km circuit. Crucially, teams will complete significant new-tyre runs, which should give a clearer picture of the true pecking order.

With half the races of the season still to come, Teretonga represents a pivotal moment in the championship. Ugochukwu remains the reference point, but with challengers lining up behind him and the push-to-pass system set to shine on the long straight, the stage is set for another dramatic weekend.