Pit Debrief

Motorsport news

Pit Debrief

Motorsport news

Tag: Freddie Slater

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

Karishma Persad05 mins

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

Shania Wallage03 mins

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

Shania Wallage02 mins

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

Karishma Persad04 mins

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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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

Karishma Persad05 mins

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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James Wharton secured his first 2026 CTFROT win at Taupo, mastering a reversed grid Race 2 filled with pressure, penalties and late drama.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Race 2 | Wharton triumphant after tense race in Taupo

Karishma Persad05 mins

James Wharton delivered a controlled and decisive performance to secure his first victory in Race 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Taupo, mastering a race shaped by a reversed grid, sustained pressure at the front and multiple strategic turning points. Starting from the second row, the HMD Motorsport with…

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Ryan Wood wins Race 1 at Taupo in 2026 CTFROT Round 2, with Ugochukwu 2nd and Slater completing the podium after an intense battle.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Race 1 | Wood continues dominant weekend in Taupo with Race 1 win

Karishma Persad04 mins

Ryan Wood delivered a calm and authoritative drive to win Race 1 of Round 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Taupo. The mtec Motorsport driver recovered from a brief loss of the lead at the start to reassert control and steadily pull clear. Behind him, Ugo Ugochukwu converted a…

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Push-to-pass reshapes race strategy at Hampton Downs as drivers react to its debut during the opening round of CTFROT 2026.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

Push-to-pass debut transforms race strategy in CTFROT 2026

Karishma Persad06 mins

The opening round of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CRFROT) introduced a fundamental change in how drivers approach racing in the championship. With the debut of the push-to-pass system, competitors gained access to a limited-use 25-horsepower boost designed to improve overtaking and inject greater strategic depth into each race. Combined with an…

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Freddie Slater fights hard at Hampton Downs, defending relentlessly to secure a podium in Race 2 of the 2026 CTFROT opener.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

“We had to fight quite hard for that one” – Slater reflects on CTFROT podium finish at Hampton Downs

Karishma Persad05 mins

Freddie Slater delivered a strong performance in Race 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Hampton Downs, climbing from sixth in the opening race to claim a well-earned third place. Driving for M2 Competition, the Kiwi showcased resilience, composure, and defensive skill on one of New Zealand’s most challenging circuits….

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