Pit Debrief

Jin Nakamura reflects on red-flag qualifying, Turn 1 drama and a hard-earned P2 in a rain-soaked 2026 CTFROT weekend at Teretonga.

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

Karishma Persad3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

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…

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.

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

Shania Wallage3 months ago3 months ago03 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…

Nakamura claimed pole position at the 2026 CTFROT Teretonga Qualifying 1 session, but brought out a red flag, dropping him down the order.

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 Wallage3 months ago3 months ago02 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…

Jin Nakamura tops crucial final practice at Teretonga as rain threat looms ahead of qualifying in Round 3 of the 2026 CTFROT.

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

Karishma Persad3 months ago3 months ago04 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…

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.

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

Karishma Persad3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

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….

James Wharton secured his first 2026 CTFROT win at Taupo, mastering a reversed grid Race 2 filled with pressure, penalties and late drama.

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

Karishma Persad3 months ago3 months ago05 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…

Rain-soaked Taupo testing sets the tone for CTFROT 2026 Round 2 as Sharp and David shine, fans rally, and teams prepare for a wet weekend.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 2 | Taupo | Testing | Sharp and David shine amidst damp conditions

Karishma Persad3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

As preparations continued for Round 2 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT), rain and damp conditions quickly became the defining theme of the Collective Test sessions at Taupo. From the outset, persistent showers swept across the 3.3km circuit, ensuring that both sessions unfolded on a wet track. Consequently, outright lap times…

Ugo Ugochukwu claimed his second race victory at Hampton Downs in Round 1, winning the Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup for CTFROT 2026 Race 4.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 1 | Hampton Downs | Race 4 | Ugochukwu claims the Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup after a stellar Sunday

Shania Wallage4 months ago4 months ago02 mins

After securing pole position in the earlier Qualifying 2 session on Sunday, Ugo Ugochukwu lined up on the front row alongside Jin Nakamura for Race 4 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) at Hampton Downs. New Zealander Louis Sharp occupied the second row, with Kanato Le starting alongside him. Jack Taylor…

Day two at Hampton Downs saw Ugo Ugochukwu dominate Qualifying 2 and secure pole for the 2026 CTFROT Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 1 | Hampton Downs | Qualifying 2 | Ugochukwu dominates Qualifying 2 to secure pole for Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago03 mins

Day two of racing at Hampton Downs opened with the second Qualifying session of Round 1 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT). After an ultra-close Qualifying 1 and two fiercely contested races on Saturday, the fight for pole position for the Dorothy Smith Memorial Cup remained wide open. As a result,…

Zack Scoular wins 2026 CTFROT Race 2 at Hampton Downs after a reverse-grid start, with Nakamura second and Slater completing the podium.

CTFROT | 2026 | Round 1 | Hampton Downs | Race 2 | Scoular claims win after chaotic race start

Karishma Persad4 months ago4 months ago04 mins

Just hours after Louis Sharp secured victory in Race 1, the field returned to Hampton Downs for Race 2 of Round 1 of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy. This time, Zack Scoular capitalised on the reverse-grid format to take a commanding win, while Jin Nakamura and Freddie Slater completed the podium after…