Round 3 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) delivered a decisive shift in the championship narrative. Following a dramatic and rain-soaked weekend at Taupo, the standings now reflect not only raw speed, but also composure under sustained pressure and the ability to recover when conditions repeatedly turned against the field. Consequently, both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships emerge from Round 3 tighter, sharper and far more defined.
Drivers’ Championship: Ugochukwu leads, but pressure intensifies behind
At the top of the Drivers’ Championship, Ugo Ugochukwu continues to lead with 237 points. However, while his advantage remains intact, the margin no longer feels comfortable. Although he endured setbacks across the latter stages of the round, he nevertheless accumulated enough points early in the weekend to retain control. As a result, Ugochukwu remains the benchmark, even as momentum begins to fluctuate.
Behind him, Freddie Slater closes in rapidly on 215 points. Importantly, his Round 3 victory and repeated front-running pace transformed his championship position. While earlier inconsistency limited his rise, he now converts opportunity into points far more effectively. Therefore, Slater emerges as Ugochukwu’s most immediate threat heading into the next phase of the season.
Meanwhile, Jin Nakamura climbs to third on 211 points and does so through resilience rather than dominance. Despite suffering a costly retirement, he repeatedly placed himself near the front whenever conditions allowed. Consequently, Nakamura remains firmly embedded in the title fight rather than slipping into damage-limitation mode.
Louis Sharp follows closely on 207 points and continues to anchor mtec Motorsport’s campaign. Although he did not dominate the round, he once again avoided major errors and capitalised when others faltered. As a result, Sharp’s consistency keeps him within striking distance of the championship lead.
Just behind, Ryan Wood rounds out the top five on 202 points. While he displayed front-running speed and delivered key results, incidents and interruptions prevented him from mounting a sustained challenge for higher positions. Even so, his pace ensures he remains a constant presence near the front.
The chasing pack: Small margins, big consequences
Further back, Kanato Le holds sixth on 185 points after a frustrating round curtailed his momentum. Despite showing competitive pace, mechanical issues and wet-weather chaos limited his scoring potential. Consequently, he now faces an uphill battle to rejoin the leading group.
Zack Scoular sits seventh on 135 points, and although his raw speed remains evident, inconsistency continues to define his campaign. By contrast, Ernesto Rivera occupies eighth on 124 points after another quietly productive weekend built on survival and steady accumulation.
Yuanpu Cui and James Wharton complete the top ten. Cui’s 120 points reflect steady midfield execution, while Wharton’s 113-point total holds firm despite his enforced absence during Round 3. Therefore, both drivers remain well placed should momentum swing their way later in the season.
Beyond them, Kalle Rovanperä and Yevan David sit level on 107 points, followed closely by Nolan Allaer and Jack Taylor. Meanwhile, Fionn McLaughlin, Cooper Shipman and Sebastian Manson remain tightly grouped, illustrating just how compressed the midfield fight has become.
CTFROT 2026: Taupo: Drivers’ Championship standings after Round 2
- Ugo Ugochukwu, M2 Competition – 237 points
- Freddie Slater, M2 Competition – 215 points
- Jin Nakamura, Hitech TGR – 211 points
- Louis Sharp, mtec Motorsport – 207 points
- Ryan Wood, mtec Motorsport – 202 points
- Kanato Le, Hitech TGR – 185 points
- Zack Scoular, mtec Motorsport – 135 points
- Ernesto Rivera, M2 Competition – 124 points
- Yuanpu Cui, mtec Motorsport – 120 points
- James Wharton, HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed – 113 points
- Kalle Rovanperä, Hitech TGR – 107 points
- Yevan David, Kiwi Motorsport – 107 points
- Nolan Allaer, Giles Motorsport – 104 points
- Jack Taylor, Giles Motorsport – 97 points
- Fionn McLaughlin, Hitech TGR – 96 points
- Cooper Shipman, Kiwi Motorsport – 88 points
- Sebastian Manson, M2 Competition – 75 points
- Ricardo Baptista, HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed – 63 points
- Trevor LaTourrette, HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed – 44 points
Teams’ Championship: M2 Competition holds firm under mounting pressure
In the Teams’ Championship, M2 Competition continues to lead with 498 points. Crucially, the team retains its advantage through depth rather than dominance. With Ugochukwu and Slater both contributing heavily, M2 repeatedly maximised the regulation that counts only the top two finishers per race. As a result, they maintain control despite intensified pressure.
However, mtec Motorsport now sits just 19 points behind on 479 points. Thanks to Sharp’s consistency and Wood’s race-winning potential, mtec steadily chips away at the deficit. Therefore, the championship remains far from settled.
Hitech TGR follows closely on 451 points and remains firmly in the fight. Although the team endured setbacks, strong contributions from Nakamura and Le ensured it stayed within reach of the leading pair. Consequently, the Teams’ Championship now forms a genuine three-way contest rather than a settled hierarchy.
Behind the front trio, Giles Motorsport edges HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed by a single point, while Kiwi Motorsport remains close enough to capitalise on any misstep ahead. Thus, even beyond the podium fight, the margins remain exceptionally tight.
CTFROT 2026: Taupo: Teams’ Championship standings after Round 2
- M2 Competition – 498 points
- mtec Motorsport – 479 points
- Hitech TGR – 451 points
- Giles Motorsport – 201 points
- HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed – 200 points
- Kiwi Motorsport – 195 points
Note that each team counts its two best results of each race.
Overall outlook after Round 3
In summary, Round 3 reshaped the 2026 CTFROT standings without delivering a knockout blow. Ugochukwu still leads, yet Slater and Nakamura now apply sustained pressure rather than distant threat. Simultaneously, the Teams’ Championship tightens to the point where execution across every race becomes critical.
Looking ahead, the championship enters a phase where momentum may outweigh outright pace. As conditions continue to fluctuate and pressure intensifies, drivers and teams that combine restraint with aggression appear best placed to shape the final outcome.
