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 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 (main photo), 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.
Comments