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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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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Ugo Ugochukwu reflects on exceeding expectations, managing risk and leading the 2026 CTFROT championship after a strong Taupo round.
Photo Credit: Toyota GAZOO Racing NZ | Joel Hanks

Ugochukwu thrives on fine margins as 2026 CTFROT momentum builds at Taupo

Ugo Ugochukwu continued to cement his status as the benchmark of the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) by offering a composed and insightful assessment of his season so far on Saturday at Taupo. Leading the championship after another productive start to the weekend at Taupo, the M2 Competition driver reflected on how…

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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

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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