Newly named GR Brand Guardian, Ryan Wood, is no stranger to the Toyota product having competed in the four-round 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy series in January before debuting the brand-new Toyota Supra in the 2026 Repco Australian Supercars Championship with his Walkinshaw TWG Racing team.
Wood was present at the unveiling of the next generation Castrol Toyota FR Oceania Trophy car – the GRF-70 – at GAZOO Racing New Zealand’s headquarters at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park last week and got to turn some laps.
“It’s good and obviously a new product in the Toyota family in NZ so really excited to have a drive,” commented Wood.
The new GRF-70 is based on the FIA Formula Regional Gen 2 T‑326 chassis, as used in the FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) and is powered by an evolution of the proven 2.0‑litre turbocharged 8AR‑FTS engine used in the New Zealand series since 2020, producing approximately 280-300 horsepower.
“It’s a lot of fun, still an open wheeler is bit different for me,” said Wodd. “I was able to do a few demo laps and then at the end where I gave it some beans. It felt good.
“A lot of the design is more modern and sleek so it is exciting for the champoionship this coming season and I look forward to watching how they go.
“There are differences definitely. It runs really smooth, the braking is good, the cockpit is more spacious and a better steering position.”
The 2027 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy series – stretching over four weeks and four intense race weekends – will give up to 22 drivers approximately 3,500km of practice, qualifying and race mileage culminating in the New Zealand Grand Prix and gets underway at Hampton Downs 8-10 January 2027.
2027 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy
Rd1 – 8-10 January – Allied Petroleum Hampton Downs International, Hampton Downs.
Rd2 – 15-17 January – Giltrap Group Taupo Historic GP, Taupo.
Rd3 – 22-24 January – Ascot Park Hotel Teretonga Park International, Invercargill
Rd4 – 29-31 January– NAPA New Zealand Grand Prix – Highlands Motorsport Park, Cromwell.
See also: Technical Tuesday: The GR Yaris affect
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