Top-tier talents ready to battle in the final dance of the first generation of Tatuus Formula Regional cars
The Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy once again opens the international single-seater season featuring Tatuus single seaters and confirming its status as a traditional and prestigious starting point for open-wheel racing. Renowned for the exceptionally high level of its participants and for having shaped an impressive number of future Formula 1 drivers over the years, the 2026 edition of the championship features a truly stellar entry list, with outstanding talents arriving from all over the world.
Among the most high-profile names is two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä, who will make his debut in single-seater racing aboard the FT-60-model of the Tatuus T-318. The Finnish star will take on the spectacular New Zealand circuits alongside some of the most promising drivers from the Formula Regional and Formula 3 landscape, including Freddie Slater, Louis Sharp, Ugo Ugochukwu, Ernesto Rivera, James Wharton, Jin Nakamura, Kanato Le, Fionn McLaughlin and Yvan David.
As in previous years, the CT-FROT 2026 is once again impeccably organised by Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand and will represent the final major chapter for the first generation of Tatuus Formula Regional cars. Since 2006, these cars have played a key role in launching the careers of extraordinary talents. It is worth recalling that the reigning Formula 1 World Champion Lando Norris competed in the New Zealand championship in 2016, following in the footsteps of drivers such as Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, Guanyu Zhou, Liam Lawson, Brandon Hartley, Arvid Lindblad and many other leading names from the F1, WEC and IndyCar grids.
The Calendar
Pre-season testing got underway on Thursday 8 January, just a few hours before the first race scheduled for Saturday 10 January. The championship will feature four race weekends in total, running through to 1 February, when the season will conclude with the traditional New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands Motorsport Park.
Round 1 - Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Waikato, 8-10 January
Round 2 - Taupo International Motorsport Park, Taupo, 15-18 January
Round 3 - Teretonga Park, Invercargill, 22-25 January
Round 4 - Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell, 29 January - 1 February (New Zealand Grand Prix)
Teams and Drivers
Six teams will compete in the championship, with a total of 19 drivers entered for the opening round:
mtec Motorsport
3- Zack Scoular
5- Yuanpu Cui
11 - Louis Sharp
40 - Ryan Wood
M2 Competition
4 - Ugo Ugochukwu
22 - Sebastian Manson
24 - Ernesto Rivera
27 - Freddie Slater
HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed
8 - Trevor LaTourrette
13 - James Wharton
41 - Ricardo Baptista
Hitech TGR
12 - Jin Nakamura
19 - Kanato Le
33 - Fionn McLaughlin
69 - Kalle Rovanperä
Kiwi Motorsport
14 - Cooper Shipman
21 - Yvan David
Giles Motorsport
50 - Jack Taylor
52 - Nolan Allaer
Pictures credits: Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy
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