CTFROT | 2026 | Round 4 | Highlands | Testing | Ugochukwu sets the early pace as title fight intensifies ahead of New Zealand Grand Prix - Motorsport

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The final round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship (CTFROT) began in emphatic style at Highlands Motorsport Park, as 20 drivers fired the opening shots in the Collective Testing ahead of the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix. Two tightly contested collective test sessions immediately underlined the intensity of the championship battle, with margins measured in tenths rather than seconds.

Zack Scoular topped the opening session before series leader Ugo Ugochukwu struck back to lead the second, setting the tone for a weekend where consistency may prove as valuable as outright speed.

Championship contenders quickly find the limit

From the outset, the leading protagonists wasted no time dipping below the 1 minute 30 second benchmark around the demanding Cromwell circuit. Ugochukwu, Freddie Slater, Jin Nakamura and Louis Sharp all demonstrated strong pace, while the Trophy-class field compressed rapidly behind them.

Meanwhile, Slater arrived at Highlands buoyed by major off-track news. Audi confirmed the British driver overnight as part of its new Formula 1 junior programme, and Slater responded with two composed sessions. Having won every championship he has entered and claimed last weekend’s Teretonga feature race, he carries clear momentum into the finale.

However, Ugochukwu remains the man to beat. The M2 Competition driver edged Slater by several tenths in the opening session and maintained control in the second, reinforcing his status as series leader.

Sharp, Nakamura and Wharton apply the pressure in 2026 CTFROT Round 4 Collective Testing

Louis Sharp continued to loom as a genuine threat. He secured fourth in the opening session before rising to third later in the day, keeping himself firmly in the title conversation. Close behind, Japan’s Jin Nakamura delivered consistent pace for Hitech, while James Wharton impressed on his return to competition.

Wharton, racing for TJ Speed after missing Teretonga due to Bahrain testing commitments, adapted quickly and improved significantly in the second session. Nolan Allaer, Ernesto Rivera and Yuanpu Cui also featured prominently as the midfield closed in.

Mixed fortunes and strong recoveries as tight times and track limits set the agenda

Ryan Wood endured an eventful start. The mtec Motorsport driver suffered a dramatic setback when his fire extinguisher discharged in the cockpit on his out lap, forcing him to abandon the first session. Nevertheless, he rebounded superbly in the second, climbing to second fastest and reasserting his title credentials.

Elsewhere, Liam Sceats settled in confidently during his one-off appearance aimed solely at securing a second New Zealand Grand Prix victory. He finished just ahead of two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä, who continues his steady adaptation to single-seaters.

As the Trophy championship has shown all season, the field remains extraordinarily close. Just seven tenths of a second covered the top ten in both sessions, ensuring that every lap will matter as the weekend unfolds.

Looking ahead, three official practice sessions and an additional Friday evening race await the drivers. Crucially, track limits at the notoriously tricky Turn 10 could shape the outcome, particularly during Saturday qualifying. Those who balance aggression with discipline may yet decide the championship.