Sharp To Make Formula Regional Debut At Home In NZ

2026 Prema Racing FIA F3 signing Louis Sharp will limber up for his most important season to date in motorsport with a title challenge on home soil in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship.

The 18-year-old will join mtec Motorsport for the four-round international championship which concludes with the New Zealand Grand Prix.

Sharp is a genuine rising star and arguably one of New Zealand’s hottest single seater prospects and will compete in FIA F3 in 2026.

Born in Nottingham in the UK, he grew up in Christchurch and it wasn’t long before he made his mark in domestic NZ motorsport.

He began karting at just six years old, quickly rising through the ranks to become the country’s best age group karter by 12 years old. In a country famed for producing more than its fair share of motorsport talent – Louis secured more national titles and series wins than any driver before him, or since.

His single seater debut came in 2020 in New Zealand’s Formula First Championship, a competitive championship that over the years had produced notable names such as Scott Dixon, Shane van Gisbergen and of course, Liam Lawson amongst a host of former champions.

After winning races in that, he made the move to New Zealand’s Formula Ford Championship followed in 2021 winning races and leading the championship before a call up by Carlin Motorsport to compete in British Formula 4. Despite missing the opening rounds due to age restrictions, he finished fourth overall in 2022, with two race wins and twelve podium finishes. He also added the UAE F4 Trophy Championship title to his list of achievements in the same year.

He returned successfully to British F4 in 2023, taking the championship title, before going on to win the GB3 Championship in 2024. In 2025, Louis stepped up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship for his rookie season where he showed enough speed to be secured by Prema for 2026.

“I am honoured to be joining mtec Motorsport in the upcoming Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy season, and must thank the Tony Quinn Foundation for its support,” he said.

“This championship has been on my bucket list since I first started karting so to be aligning myself with both Tony Quinn and mtec is a dream come true and a great opportunity for me to draw from the knowledge and experience they both hold.”

Fans will be able to follow Louis and the championship easily. Qualifying will be livestreamed on TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand’s YouTube channel. Races will also be on that channel and on SkySport domestically in New Zealand. Races will also be streamed live on the Motorsport.TV platform.

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

© Scoop Media