Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand, with backing from Toyota Gazoo Racing Global Motorsport, has confirmed it will introduce a brand-new Gen 2 Formula Regional car for the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) from 2027.
The new chassis will replace the Toyota FT-60, which has been used in the championship since 2020. TGRNZ will continue its close partnership with Italian manufacturer Tatuus, which will once again supply the chassis.
Alignment with Formula Regional globally
The 2027 CTFROT Gen 2 new car will be based on the FIA’s second-generation Formula Regional platform, aligning the New Zealand series more closely with other championships around the world, including the Formula Regional European Championship.
It will run an updated version of Toyota’s long-standing 2.0-litre turbocharged 8AR-FTS engine, which has been a staple of the category in New Zealand for over two decades. The move reflects a focus on improving performance, efficiency and sustainability, while keeping the championship in line with broader developments across global motorsport and road car technology.
The car will also retain key features already introduced in recent seasons, including the push-to-pass system that debuted in 2026, while Pirelli will continue as the tyre supplier.
Two prototype cars are arriving in New Zealand from Italy in the near future, where they will run with updated engines as part of an extensive local testing programme ahead of the 2027 debut.
“Our switch to a generation two car underlines our long-standing commitment to the FIA’s single seater pyramid as a logical progression for drivers from FIA-certified Formula 4, through FIA Formula Regional, and on to FIA Formula 3 and beyond – while ensuring the cars and competition remain true to the principles of high-performance, driver-first motorsport,” explained TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand Motorsport Manager Nicolas Caillol.
“And it also shows our own commitment to finding New Zealand’s next World Champion. There is a lot of work to do between now and the 2027 Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy but we will be ready, with a field of up to 22 cars.”
CTFROT’s commitment to sustainability
As part of the transition, the current fleet of FT-60 cars will be sold complete with engines. Previous models, including the FT-40 and FT-50, remain widely used both in New Zealand and internationally, continuing to provide accessible and sustainable single-seater racing opportunities outside top-tier global competition.
The championship itself remains one of the most significant Formula Regional series globally, particularly due to its calendar timing. Running during the Northern Hemisphere winter, it offers drivers valuable track time and the chance to earn FIA Super Licence points ahead of their main racing seasons.
In 2026 alone, nine drivers from the FIA Formula 3 grid competed in the New Zealand-based series, where Ugo Ugochukwu walked away with the title. It culminates in the historic New Zealand Grand Prix, one of only two FIA-sanctioned non-Formula 1 Grands Prix, alongside the Macau Grand Prix.
The series has also built a strong reputation as a pathway to the very top. Lando Norris, who was the 2025 F1 World Drivers’ Champion, won the championship in 2016, while drivers such as Liam Lawson, Lance Stroll and Arvid Lindblad have also emerged from the series.
In total, more than 25 graduates have gone on to race, test or officially participate in F1, with many others building successful careers across categories such as IndyCar, Formula E, the World Endurance Championship and GT racing, further cementing the championship’s role as a proven stepping stone to the world stage.
