First Hampton Downs Test For 2026 CTFROT Field

The impressive grid lining up for the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy took to the track for the first time today – with three acclimatisation runs at the Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park.

With most of the running purely to get the drivers used to the cars and the circuits, the most impressive part of the day was how close the cars were, with the top ten and sometimes top 15 covered by a second or less.

Rarely have the times on the opening test been so close and the the highly-anticipated 2026 championship is promising to be mega-competitive.

After two shakedown runs the 19 drivers ran two practice sessions with a session practicing starts in between.

Fastest time of the day went to Kiwi Louis Sharp, who clocked a low 1 minute 30 second lap in the morning.

Hitech’s Jin Nakamura and M2 Competition’s Ugo Uguchokwu were strong throughout the day, with nakamura quickest in the afternoon session.

Another Kiwi, Supercars superstar Ryan Wood, was impressive, completing both test sessions inside the top five. In the second session in the afternoon he was third quickest just four tenths off Nakamura’s fastest lap, backing up fourth fastest time in the morning around a circuit he knows well.

Two time world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera settled into a Formula Regional car for the first time and progressed throughout the day, ending the first session just over a second off Sharp’s best. In the second session he was even closer to the pace.

All of the weekend’s action – which begins officially on Friday and concludes with the Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy feature race on Sunday – will be livestreamed on TGRNZ’s YouTube channel and all races will be live on Sky Sport NZ. Tickets to come along to the race weekend are still available at https://nextgennz.flicket.co.nz

2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy - Entry

M2 Competition

Freddie Slater (United Kingdom)

Sebastian Manson (New Zealand)

Ugo Ugochukwu (United States)

Ernesto Rivera (Mexico)

Hitech

Jin Nakamura (japan)

Kanato Le (Japan)

Kalle Rovanperä (Finland)

Fionn McLaughlin (Ireland)

TJ Speed with HMD Motorsports

James Wharton (Australia)

Ricardo Baptista (Brazil)

Trevor LaTourette (United States)

Giles Motorsport

Jack Taylor (Australia)

Nolan Allaer (United States)

mtec Motorsport

Yuanpu Cui (China)

Zac Scoular (New Zealand)

Louis Sharp (New Zealand)

Ryan Wood (New Zealand)

Kiwi Motorsport

Yevan David (Sri Lanka)

Cooper Shipman (United States)

Qualifying and races will be livestreamed on TGRNZ YouTube channel on the following links.

• Qualifying 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/Iey-Z99L2Ik?si=_X55deNiygWGGDLT
• Race 1: https://www.youtube.com/live/j1U-LYmP8LY?si=stbIC1EOCzFH-lQF
• Race2: https://www.youtube.com/live/w8R0Fyl0RFg?si=A9mrGM3WepxqtZ9o
• Qualifying 2: https://www.youtube.com/live/RlF-0HMxBZM?si=aS2E943GnPwbZj6-
• Race 3: https://www.youtube.com/live/cgim43uyztw?si=MpmSyhDwOPa9C9gl
• Race4: https://www.youtube.com/live/AqVKTWxseLw?si=-rlQSAPC2jdumZrF

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 Sustainable Fuel

The Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy category recently applied to the Environmental Protection Authority use a fossil-free fuel. Cars competing in this motorsport championship will be powered more sustainably with a fossil-free racing fuel this January and February.

The Environmental Protection Authority approved, with controls, Toyota New Zealand’s application for the use of the fuel for racing events around New Zealand.

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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