Jin Nakamura reflects on red-flag qualifying, Turn 1 drama and a hard-earned P2 in a rain-soaked 2026 CTFROT weekend at Teretonga.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Bruce Jenkins

Nakamura believes first 2026 CTFROT win “is getting closer and closer” despite lack of pace at Teretonga Park

At Teretonga Park, Hitech TGR’s Jin Nakamura emerged from Round 3 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) with another podium finish but plenty to reflect on. A red-flagged qualifying session, persistent rain and a demanding circuit combined to test both confidence and consistency. Despite finishing second in Race 1, the Hitech…

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Freddie Slater claims his first 2026 CTFROT win at Teretonga, mastering wet conditions and safety car restarts in Race 1.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

Wet weather precision at Teretonga Park delivers first 2026 CTFROT win for Slater

M2 Competition’s Freddie Slater produced a controlled and assured drive to secure his first victory of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT), mastering treacherous wet conditions at Teretonga Park. The M2 Competition driver kept his composure through multiple safety car periods, changing grip levels and constant interruptions to emerge as the standout…

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2026 CTFROT Race 2 at Teretonga Park was abandoned after heavy rain, standing water and safety concerns prevented the event from starting.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hawks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Race 2 abandoned amid persistent wet conditions

Race officials abandoned the 2026 CTFROT Race 2 at Teretonga Park after persistent heavy rain and deteriorating track conditions prevented the event from starting. Officials reached the decision following a series of delays that left drivers waiting on track and in the pit lane, with safety concerns increasing as rainfall continued. Although organisers made repeated…

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Freddie Slater navigated two safety car restarts to claim the victory in the wet weathered Race 1 at Teretonga in Round 3 of the 2026 CTFROT.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Bruce Jenkins

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Race 1 | Slater navigates multiple safety car restarts in the wet to claim his first CTFROT victory

Freddie Slater navigated two safety car restarts to claim the victory in the wet-weather Race 1 at Teretonga Raceway in Round 3 of the 2026 CTFROT. In the earlier Qualifying 1 session, Jin Nakamura initially set the fastest time to claim pole position. However, after triggering the third red flag of the session, he was…

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Nakamura claimed pole position at the 2026 CTFROT Teretonga Qualifying 1 session, but brought out a red flag, dropping him down the order.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Qualifying 1 | Red-flag interrupted session sees Nakamura claim pole but Rivera to start Race 1 from the front

Jin Nakamura claimed his first pole position for the opening race of Round 3 for the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) Qualifying 1 session at Teretonga Raceway in New Zealand. In tricky wet conditions, Nakamura set the fastest time but caused the session’s third red flag, resulting in a three-place grid penalty…

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Jin Nakamura tops crucial final practice at Teretonga as rain threat looms ahead of qualifying in Round 3 of the 2026 CTFROT.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Practice | Nakamura tops crucial final practice as rain looms

Jin Nakamura set the benchmark when it mattered most at Teretonga Park, as teams prepared for the third round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT). With rain threatening Invercargill and potentially disrupting Saturday qualifying, organisers allowed teams to treat the final session as a de facto grid-setter for Race 1. As…

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M2 Competition's Ugo Ugochukwu tops Teretonga testing as CTFROT 2026 heads into Round 3 with title rivals closing in.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

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

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 –…

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Taupo reshapes the 2026 CTFROT title fight as Ugochukwu extends his lead in Round 2 and the Teams’ Championship tightens.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT 2026: Standings after Round 2: M2 Competition holds on as Hitech and mtec close in at Taupo

Round 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Taupo reshaped the championship picture through four sharply contrasting races. While outright pace again mattered, Taupo placed greater emphasis on recovery drives, damage limitation and consistency across changing conditions. As a result, the standings after the second round reflect both sustained excellence…

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Ryan Wood wins a dramatic Race 4 at Taupo, overcoming Safety Car chaos and late battles to claim the 2026 CTFROT Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Race 4 | Wood leads from the start to claim the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy

Race 4 brought the 2026 CTFROT Round 2 weekend at Taupo to a dramatic conclusion, as Ryan Wood converted a strong start into victory in the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy. Despite crosswinds, high tyre degradation and a mid-race Safety Car, Wood controlled the race from the front and resisted late pressure to secure the win….

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Zack Scoular dominates 2026 CTFROT Race 3 at Taupo, converting pole into victory as Slater and Wood complete the podium on a drying track.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Race 3 | Scoular converts pole to victory in dominant showing at Taupo

Unlike the wet conditions that defined the morning’s Qualifying session, Race 3 of Round 2 of the 2026 CTFROT unfolded on a drying circuit at Taupo. With grip steadily improving, mtec Motorsport’s Zack Scoular converted pole position into a commanding victory, controlling the race from the early laps and fending off sustained pressure behind. Grid…

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