Formula 4 United States Champ Eager To Take On The Best In NZ

Nine wins in the United States last season marked Cooper as one to watch for 2026 – whichever category he competes in. But to begin 2026, he’s staying with the team he won the US title with – Kiwi Motorsport - and heading to New Zealand.

Cooper expects the challenge of taking part in the country’s four-round premier championship will be a very tough one when he races against a high-quality field of proven talent from other junior formula categories around the world.

“Competing in FR Oceania will be the biggest challenge of my racing career,” explained the seventeen-year-old from Austin, Texas, who is following in the tyre tracks of another US F4 star, Patrick Woods Toth by competing in New Zealand after a successful US F4 season.

“I’m not only moving from F4 to Formula Regional, but also stepping onto a global stage against some of the world’s top emerging talent.

“The series has proven itself in its ability to develop young talent, with recent series champion Arvid Lindblad and newly crowned F1 world champion Lando Norris both using the series as a launchpad to progress their careers.

“I’m grateful to my family and supporters for giving me the opportunity to test myself against the best in the world as opposed to a US winter testing program. I trust Kiwi Motorsports, Driven DynamiX, and my own abilities to rise to the occasion and put out a competitive effort.”

Like many of the grid – which in 2026 will include two time world rally champion Kalle Rovanperä and Red Bull Junior Fionn McLaughlin – Cooper began his racing career in karts at just five years old.

After rising through regional and national karting, he moved to Formula Ford in 2024 to learn mechanical grip and full-size formula cars. He then graduated to F4 and delivered a standout rookie season, winning the 2025 championship.

2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy

Rd1 - 9-11 January - Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park

Rd2 - 16-18 January - Taupo International Motorsport Park

Rd3 - 23-25 January - Teretonga Raceway, Invercargill

Rd4 - 30 Jan -1st Feb - 70th New Zealand Grand Prix – Highlands International Motorsport Park

About the Repco NextGen NZ Championship

Season two of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship comprises six incredible events showcasing the best of international and local motorsport throughout the summer.

The season includes back-to-back rounds at Hampton Downs, Taupo, Teretonga (Invercargill) and the 70th running of the New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsport Park, now sponsored by NAPA. The season finale will be held at Manfeild, near Palmerston, in early March.

The championship is headlined by the return of the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, the Bridgestone GR86 Championship, Summerset GT New Zealand and the TA2 New Zealand Championship.

A special two-round historic Formula Atlantic showcase will be a highlight, along with the Porsche NZ Championship, GTRNZ, NAPA Central Muscle Cars, the NAPA Auto Parts NZ Formula Ford Championship and the NEXEN Tyre Mazda Racing Super Series.

For more information, head to www.nextgennz.co.nz

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