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CT-FROT 2026 opens the season in New Zealand with Tatuus cars
Top-tier talents ready to battle in the final dance of the first generation of Tatuus Formula Regional carsThe 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
Event
Korus Christmas: the Group comes together in a special campaign blending motorsport passion and holiday spirit
Korus Christmas: the Group comes together in a special campaign blending motorsport passion and holiday spiritWatch the full video here!
The Korus Christmas campaign went live between December 18 and 22, marking a key moment for the Group’s brand communication. For the first time, Korus brought all its companies together within a single, shared narrative, creating a cohesive and engaging storytelling project.
The campaign was designed to strengthen Korus’ Group identity by highlighting collaboration among its brands, as well as the wide range of motorsport vehicles and services offered across the Group. Christmas became the perfect opportunity to create original, engaging content capable of expressing Korus’ core values: innovation, motorsport passion and a strong team spirit.
The story unfolds inside the Tatuus HQ, reimagined as a racing-inspired Santa Claus workshop. Here, Santa prepares to “hit the track” aboard a one-of-a-kind sleigh: a single-seater pulled by racing “kart-reindeers.” This distinctive production, entirely developed within the Tatuus headquarters, was made possible thanks to the close collaboration between all Group companies . The project featured a Tatuus single-seater powered by ATM, paired with Birel karts powered by IAME, supported by engineers and mechanics from ATM, YCOM and Next Solution, with Breda Racing instrumentation completing the setup.
Adding further value to the narrative was the presence of a special guest: Matteo Bobbi . With his charisma, experience and a unique festive twist, the former Tatuus driver guided the audience through the Korus universe, bringing to life an authoritative yet ironic interpretation of a true “motorsport Santa Claus.”
The result is an authentic and impactful campaign that, through teasers and the final video, successfully showcased each company’s identity within a shared vision . It strengthened the sense of belonging to the Group and delivered a clear message: Korus is a motorsport-driven reality that aims high and grows by working as one team.
The 2025 Christmas campaign represents not only a celebratory moment, but also another step forward in the Group’s integration journey laying the groundwork for future collaborations and new projects
News
Tatuus T-326 Makes Its Debut in Formula Regional Middle East
Teams competing in the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy are the first in the world to test this new single-seater, delivered in Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina Circuit ahead of the official test on January 13, 2026.The FRME season kicks off on January 16, 2026, at Yas Marina and concludes on February 13, 2026, in Lusail, Qatar.
“Formula Regional Middle East is proud to be the first series worldwide to debut the new Tatuus T-326, ” said Davide de Gobbi, General Manager of Top Speed . “The international motorsport spotlight is back on the Middle East, and our outstanding lineup of teams and drivers will showcase the full potential of this innovative car .”
Developed through intensive research by Tatuus Racing, the T-326 represents a significant evolution from the T-318 , the car that launched drivers such as Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson to the top levels of motorsport.
The new car delivers greater stability and more responsive handling thanks to a revised chassis and optimized suspension , ensuring precise steering and improved cornering balance. Its aerodynamics draw inspiration from higher-level single-seater categories, increasing downforce while reducing wake effects, enhancing overtaking opportunities and overall race quality.
The ATM163T engine, the first three-cylinder in Formula Regional history, was developed by ATM-Autotecnica Motori in collaboration with TOM’S and is derived from Toyota’s G16E engine. This power unit combines performance, efficiency, and reliability, setting a new benchmark for the category.
Safety has also reached a new level: the T-326 meets the latest FIA standards, featuring redesigned crash boxes, anti-intrusion panels, and an upgraded rollover protection system. The cockpit is designed to accommodate a wider range of driver physiques, promoting inclusivity and making Formula Regional accessible to more young talents.
Formula Regional Middle East is promoted by Top Speed, a leader in Asian motorsport since 2008 , handling race organization, technical support, logistics, event management, and sponsorships. Top Speed has contributed to the development of series such as the Macau Grand Prix – FIA FR World Cup, Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and Formula 4 UAE Trophy, bringing top-level teams and drivers to the track with international expertise
News
Tatuus at Yas Marina and Jeddah: spotlight on Formula Trophy and F4 Saudi
Formula Trophy competes at Yas Marina during the F1 weekend while F4 Saudi heads to the season finale in JeddahFormula Trophy The championship arrives in Abu Dhabi for the third race of the seven-event calendar, in a weekend of high significance: the series takes place on the Yas Marina Circuit alongside the Formula 1, offering young drivers an exceptional stage . Racing on the same track as F1, in front of a large audience and within a high-profile paddock, provides valuable exposure and an important opportunity for growth. The standings are still in the early stages, with Theo Palmer (Hitech TGR) leading on 51 points, followed by Alp Aksoy (Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited) with 43. With several rounds remaining, the championship order is still open to change. Live coverage is available on the official YouTube channel.
F4 Saudi After a two-week break, the F4 Saudi Championship returns for its final round at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit . Kit Belofsky (Peax) leads the standings with 146 points, while Adam Al Azhari (Valvoline) follows with 125. With important points still on the line, the concluding event plays a decisive role in determining the season’s outcome. Live coverage will be provided on the series’ official YouTube channel.
News
F1 Academy set to crown its new champion in Las Vegas
Title fight and major 2026 announcements shape the season finale weekendThe final weekend of the 2025 F1 Academy season is already underway under the sparkling lights of Las Vegas, where the thrilling title fight between Doriane Pin — championship leader heading into the round with 151 points — and Maya Weug , just behind on 142, will reach its decisive moment.
Qualifying took place on Thursday evening, while Friday will host Race 1 (6:15 PM PST) and Saturday will see the lights go out for Race 2 (4:20 PM PST). Pole position once again went to Chloe Chambers , while Doriane Pin and Maya Weug will start Race 2 from fourth and fifth on the grid, respectively. The reversed-grid Race 1 will see Nina Gademan line up from pole.
With 25 points on offer in Race 2 and 10 in Race 1, the championship battle will be decided entirely on track, determining who will join Marta García (2023) and Abbi Pulling (2024) in the F1 Academy roll of honour.
Both title contenders will conclude their F1 Academy journey in Las Vegas, as the regulations limit drivers to a maximum of two seasons in the series. Like them, pole sitter Chloe Chambers, Tina Hausmann, Lia Block, Chloe Chong and Aurelia Nobels will also exit the championship at the end of the weekend. Meanwhile, the build-up to the finale has been marked by several announcements regarding the 2026 season.
McLaren confirmed Ella Lloyd for 2026 and revealed it will extend support to an additional entry on the grid through McLaren Oxagon, which will field Ella Stevens in partnership with Rodin Motorsport. The papaya team also announced that young talent Ella Häkkinen has joined its Driver Development Programme.
Alisha Palmowski (Red Bull) and Rafaela Ferreira (Visa Cash App Red Bull) have also been confirmed for 2026, while Esmee Kosterman will race the newly unveiled Lego-sponsored car — launched alongside the brand-new Lego set featuring the T-421-F1A. Lisa Billard will also join the grid, with Gatorade supporting her single seater.
News
114 Tatuus Cars in Action as the ATM-Powered T-318 Ends Its Cycle
From Macau to Barcelona, via Jeddah: 114 Tatuus cars on trackThe past weekend was a special and symbolic one for the many Tatuus single-seaters competing worldwide. The strongest emotions came from the legendary Guia Circuit in Macau, where the ATM–Alfa Romeo-powered T-318 contested the final chapter of its official competitive history. The model will see its definitive last outings in January and February, when the Toyota-powered version will take part in the CT-FROT in New Zealand.
But the weekend was only the conclusion of a full week spent on track — from Monday through Sunday — as always, all around the world.
FIA FR World Cup – Macau GP For the second consecutive year, the Macau GP hosted the FIA Formula Regional World Cup, delivering plenty of action across six sessions held from Thursday to Sunday. Fighting at the top throughout the weekend were the drivers from Pinnacle, Prema, ART and R-ace, with Théophile Naël (Pinnacle) showing strong pace as early as Friday and securing pole position in qualifying. Saturday’s Qualification Race instead went the way of Freddie Slater (Prema), ahead of the two Pinnacle cars of Boya and Naël, followed by ART’s Giltaire and Kato.
All efforts in qualifying were aimed at securing the best possible starting spot for Sunday’s main race, which began with immediate overtakes and intense action. Slater managed to retake the lead from Mari Boya after a few laps, building a gap of around three seconds before a safety car — triggered by Oscar Wurz (Evans GP) — neutralised the race. The restart favoured Mari Boya, who reclaimed the lead from Slater. In an attempt to stay close, Slater hit the barrier on exit of R Bend, causing another safety-car intervention and a second restart. At that point, Théophile Naël made a brilliant move, overtaking both Enzo Deligny (R-ace) in second and race leader Boya in one single attack. Helped by an additional safety-car phase, the Frenchman went on to win the race and claim the Formula Regional World Cup title.
Naël will also remain the final driver to secure a FIA Formula Regional victory with the ATM–Alfa Romeo-powered T-318.
EuroCup-3 Barcelona also marked the end of the competitive cycle of the T-318-EC3, the model introduced in 2023 and derived from the T-318 chassis.
With champion Mattia Colnaghi competing at Macau, the rest of the grid battled for the final two races of the season. Kacper Sztuka (Campos) won Race 1, while Andres Cardenas (MP Motorsport) secured victory in Race 2. Valerio Rinicella (MP Motorsport) finished second in both races and ultimately claimed P2 in the overall standings.
Spanish F4 As tradition dictates, Barcelona also hosted the final round of the Spanish F4 Championship.
Title winner Thomas Strauven (Campos) took his tenth win of the season in Race 1. Reno Francot (MP Motorsport) claimed his first victory of the year in Race 2, while the final race went to Ean Eyckmans (MP Motorsport), who also secured second place in the championship standings.
F4 Saudi The week also featured two rounds of the F4 Saudi Championship, both held at the Jeddah circuit — the first between Monday and Tuesday, the second between Friday and Saturday.
Across the four races, Kit Belofsky (Peax) collected one win and two second places, maintaining the championship lead over Adam Al Azhari (Valvoline), who also stood on the podium in three out of four races, as did Scott Lindblom (Red Bull). Two race victories went to series newcomer Lewis Wherrell (Caraagy), who impressed in his debut.
The title battle between Belofsky, Al Azhari and Lindblom will now go down to the final round, scheduled for 5–6 December, once again at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
News
Tatuus cars across Montmelò, Macao and the Middle East: a weekend full of action
From Montmelò to the Guia Circuit, Tatuus machines headline a decisive and historic racing weekend.Macau Grand Prix The Guia Circuit hosts the 72nd Macau Grand Prix , one of the most iconic events on the international racing calendar. This edition marks a special moment for Tatuus, as the first-generation T-318 chassis powered by ATM-Alfa Romeo make their final competitive appearance in the FIA Formula Regional World Cup. Following Thursday’s opening qualifying session, Qualifying 2 will take place on Friday, with the Qualification Race scheduled for Saturday at 16:15 CST. The main race is set for Sunday at 15:30 CST, when a new Formula Regional world champion will take the T-318 to its last chequered flag. The entire weekend promises an atmosphere rich in heritage and emotion, as Macao once again celebrates its unique blend of street racing tradition and international prestige.
Eurocup-3 The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosts the season finale of the Eurocup-3 Championship. Series champion Mattia Colnaghi will be absent, competing at Macao , and MP Motorsport has called up rookie Lorenzo Campos, who previously raced in the Spanish F4 Championship. Race 1 will start on Saturday at 15:40 (CEST) , with the final round taking place on Sunday at 14:40 . Both races will be streamed live on the official Eurocup-3 YouTube channel , wrapping up a season that has served as an important development platform for young drivers.
F4 Spain The Spanish Formula 4 Championship also reaches its conclusion at Montmelò. Thomas Strauven (Campos Racing) has already secured the 2025 title with five races to spare, confirming his dominance throughout the season . Behind him, the battle for second remains open between René Lammers and Ean Eyckmans, both representing MP Motorsport . Lammers currently holds 220 points, while Eyckmans follows with 195. The Catalan weekend begins on Saturday, 15 November at 16:00 (CET) with the first race . The final two races will take place on Sunday, 16 November, the morning session at 11:00 and the concluding race at 15:00, bringing to a close a season defined by Strauven’s consistency and skill.
F4 Saudi After completing its third round earlier in the week, the Saudi F4 Championship returns to action for its fourth and penultimate event of the season . Kit Belofsky (Peax Racing) leads the standings with 103 points, chased by Scott Lindblom (Red Bull) and Adam Al Azhari (Valvoline) , both tied at 92. The three scheduled races will be broadcast live on the championship’s official channel, as the battle for the top intensifies in the build-up to the season finale.
Stories
F4 Brazil and Hoosier Cup Take Center Stage at Interlagos and Paul Ricard
Brazil hosts the fifth F4 round, while France crowns the Hoosier Cup champion in the season finaleFormula 4 Brazil
The fifth round of the Formula 4 Brazil championship took place at Interlagos , São Paulo, marking the third consecutive year the series has supported the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Filippo Fiorentino dominated the weekend with victories in race 1 and race 3, confirming his pace and consistency. Rafaela Ferreira claimed race 2, participating in the championship exclusively for the Interlagos round. The Red Bull Academy driver will soon return to action for the season finale of the Formula 1 Academy in Las Vegas. The Formula 4 Brazil series will next compete on November 28 at the Brasília circuit , for the penultimate round of the season.
Formula Hoosier Cup
The Formula Hoosier Cup concluded its 2025 season at the Paul Ricard circuit , which also hosted the opening round earlier in the year. Nano López secured the championship after winning race 1 and repeating the success in the final race. Earlier in the weekend, Aaron Ferrazzano and Dylan Estre won race 1 and race 2 respectively. A contact between the two at the start of the final race did not affect the championship outcome, already firmly in López’s favor.
Tatuus takes center stage at Le Castellet and Interlagos
From Paul Ricard to São Paulo, Tatuus single-seaters headline two important championship roundF4 Brazil After a one-month break, F4 Brazil returns to action at Interlagos , one of the continent’s most emblematic tracks, on the same weekend that features the Formula 1 race, sharpening attention on São Paulo. Championship leader Heitor Dall’Agnol (TMG Racing) tops the standings with 199 points, with teammate Filippo Fiorentino second on 120 and Murilo Rocha (Starrett Bassani) close behind on 116. The weekend opens on Saturday morning with Race 1 at 9:30 BRT , followed by Race 2 in the afternoon at 16:40 BRT , while the weekend concludes on Sunday with Race 3 at 9:25 BRT. All sessions will be streamed live on the championship’s official YouTube channel.
Hoosier Formula Cup Circuit Paul Ricard hosts the season finale of the Hoosier Formula Cup , the decisive round that will settle the 2025 standings. Nano López (TS Corse) arrives at the final event leading the championship on 339 points, with Hugh Barter (Wienfield Racing) second on 296 points and Dylan Estre (Formula Motorsport) third on 283 points, each still able to influence final positions. The weekend begins on Saturday with Race 1 at 14:55 CEST , while Sunday features Race 2 at 8:30 CEST and the concluding Race 3 at 13:20 CEST when the series will crown its final order. Live coverage will be available on the championship’s official YouTube channel.