Buy your tickets and book your accommodation for the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy series as we are likely to see two-time World Rally Champion (WRC) Kalle Rovanperä on the grid this summer. News at the end of this week confirms that the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) World Rally Team driver will move away from the WRC category and focus on single seater racing. With the support of TGR, the 25-year-old will compete in the 2026 Japanese Super Formula Championship, one of the fastest single seater categories outside of Formula One.
It makes sense that in order to gain as much experience as possible heading into the 2026 season in Japan, the Finnish driver will more than likely compete in a ‘Winter’ (Southern Hemisphere) singe seater series and as a TGR driver, the Toyota Formula Regional series in New Zealand is the logical step.
Coupled with this, there are a maximum of 18 FIA Super Licence Points available from the four-round, 15-race series. Add this to the maximum of 30-points available in Super Formula, then a driver is well on their way to gaining the 40-points needed to compete in Formula One.
While he hasn’t stated that his aim is to compete in Formula One, he has signaled that he wants to take it to the highest level and it is reported that the Super Formula season will be a prelude to competing in Formula 2 in 2027.
Rovanperä has already competed in New Zealand winning the Rally NZ World Rally Championship round with co-driver Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) in 2022. He went on to win his first WRC driver’s title that same year, which he repeated in 2023.
Once confirmed that he will be competing in New Zealand, the worldwide attention, especially from Japan, on the Toyota FR series will be huge. Not only will he have the attention of the rally fraternity, but there will also be added attention from many Formula categories and a heightened focus from Japan.
It potentially could be the biggest sensation for the New Zealand single seater category which has a 20-year history of producing drivers who have or are currently competing in F1, F2, F3, IndyCar, Supercars, WEC, Carrera Cup Series, many GT categories.
It is also reported that Rovanperä is embarking on simulator work with Hitech over the remainder of 2025 and through 2026. Hitech currently compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, FIA Formula 3 Championship, GB3 Championship, F4 British Championship, Formula Winter Series and in F1 Academy. In July this year, it confirmed that Hitech would field a three-car team in the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy.
His position on the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy with Hitech is expected to be officially confirmed within weeks.
The championship will begin over the weekend of January 9-11 at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and a week later heads further south for Round 2 at the Taupo International Motorsport Park January 16-18, both rounds in the North Island.
These will then be followed by two rounds in the South Island with Round 3 at Teretonga Raceway just outside of Invercargill January 23-25 and the final weekend the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix meeting to be held at the Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell over the weekend of January 30-February 1st, 2026.
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