Jin Nakamura delivered one of the standout performances of Saturday at Highlands Motorsport Park, combining exceptional qualifying speed with a solid second-place finish in Race 1 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship (CTFROT). As the final weekend of the season unfolded, Nakamura emerged as one of the fastest drivers on the circuit, even if the race did not fully reflect his outright pace.
Starting alongside championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu, Nakamura entered Race 1 with momentum following a blistering qualifying display that underlined Hitech’s strength at Highlands ahead of the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix.
Qualifying performance sets the benchmark
Nakamura’s pace over a single lap defined the earlier part of the day. He topped the timing screens in qualifying and secured pole position for the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix, showcasing confidence, precision and raw speed around the Highlands layout.
However, while qualifying highlighted his potential, the race itself presented a different challenge as conditions evolved and balance became more difficult to manage over a full distance.
Reflecting on the contrast between sessions, Nakamura said: “Yeah, I was missing a little bit of pace in Race 1, especially second part of the race. Yeah, I had a little bit of balance issue during the race. But still our pace was not too bad. I was just one-tenth off or something from Hugo. Yeah, still happy with our performance, especially for Quali; yeah, we have pace.”
Despite the issues, Nakamura remained within striking distance of the leader and secured valuable points at a crucial stage of the championship.
Lessons learned from Race 1 at Highlands
The opening lap proved decisive, as Ugochukwu gained the advantage off the line and controlled the race from the front. With limited overtaking opportunities, Nakamura focused on maintaining pressure while protecting second place. When asked whether the start cost him a chance to fight for victory, Nakamura offered a measured assessment of the situation and pointed to detailed post-race analysis.
He explained: “Yeah, I felt it was quite decent start, to be honest. But, I think just second launch was a little bit down compared to him. Yeah, we already analysed about that. So it should be fine for tomorrow.”
Rather than dwelling on missed opportunities, Nakamura and the Hitech team immediately shifted their focus towards extracting improvements ahead of the remaining races.
Nakamura confident ahead of 70th New Zealand Grand Prix after strong 2026 CTFROT showing on Saturday
With the New Zealand Grand Prix still to come, Nakamura remains firmly in contention. His qualifying pace demonstrated that he can extract maximum performance from the FT60, while the lessons from Race 1 provide a clear direction for refinement.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s feature race, Nakamura expressed confidence in his ability to respond and deliver when it counts most. He said, “Yes, I have confidence. I must have confidence for that. So, yeah, it should be fine.”
That mindset, combined with proven speed, positions Nakamura as a key challenger as the championship weekend reaches its climax.
Although Race 1 did not deliver victory, Nakamura leaves Saturday with momentum, belief and a clear understanding of where gains can be found. With a front-running car, strong qualifying form and confidence intact, he heads into the final races determined to convert pace into a defining result.
