2026 CTFROT Testing at Highlands heats up as Ugochukwu, Slater and Sharp trade early blows ahead of the season finale.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | John Cowpland

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

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…

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Audi signs British driver Freddie Slater as the first member of its Driver Development Programme ahead of his 2026 F3 season with Trident.
Photo Credit: Audi F1 Team

Slater joins Audi Driver Development Programme as first signing ahead of 2026 F3 campaign

Audi Revolut F1 Team has signed British talent Freddie Slater as the first official member of its newly launched Driver Development Programme. With this announcement, made in Hinwil in January 2026, Audi places one of motorsport’s most highly rated young talents firmly at the centre of its long-term F1 vision. As a direct result, Slater…

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CTFROT 2026: Freddie Slater wins a chaotic, rain-hit Race 4 at Teretonga as late drama drops Ugo Ugochukwu out.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Race 4 | Slater claims the Spirit of a Nation Cup after Ugochukwu falters

After a weekend dominated by wet conditions, Race 4 of Round 3 of the 2026 CTFROT finally began at Teretonga Park in marginally drier weather. Crucially, this allowed drivers to use push-to-pass for the first time all weekend. However, mixed conditions, multiple interruptions, and late drama ensured the Spirit of a Nation Cup delivered yet…

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Ugo Ugochukwu dominates a wet, Safety Car-hit Race 2 at Teretonga Park to win in CTFROT 2026 as key title rivals falter.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Bruce Jenkins

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Race 2 | Ugochukwu masters wet conditions; Nakamura, Slater and Le suffer blows to title hopes

After rain washed out Saturday’s action, Race 2 of the penultimate round of the 2026 CTFROT finally went green at a sodden Teretonga Park, delivering a tense and incident-filled contest. Despite repeated Safety Car interruptions and constant pressure from behind, championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu controlled proceedings from the front, converting pole position into a vital…

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Wet weather and red flags disrupt Qualifying 2 at Teretonga as Freddie Slater claims pole in a dramatic, incident-filled 2026 CTFROT session.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 3 | Teretonga | Qualifying 2 | Slater claims pole but brings out late red flag

Persistent rain continued to dominate the penultimate round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Teretonga Park, as Sunday’s running began on a soaked circuit for Qualifying 2. Despite the challenging conditions, drivers delivered a frenetic and incident-filled session that ultimately ended under red flag conditions. Freddie Slater emerged fastest, holding…

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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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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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