Ryan Wood is a CTFROT winner. Image: Joel Hanks
Wood converted pole position in perfect fashion, leading all 18 laps of the opening race in his MTEC entry.
He crossed the line 2.5s ahead of series leader Ugo Ugochuwku marking a perfect comeback from his first-lap crash in the feature race at Hampton Downs last Sunday.
“Big credit to our whole team,” said Wood. “Obviously Sunday last week was rough and they got the car built back up and it’s been a jet ever since.
“I’m really happy, I can’t thank the MTEC crew enough. It feels nice. Still got a bit of work to do I think, Ugo was cruising there a fair bit. I think we’re there or thereabouts. I’m more than happy.”
Zack Scoular was able to run with the lead pair early in the race before a lock-up at the hairpin on Lap 8 while chasing Ugochuwku put him on the back foot.
Dealing with a flat spot, the Kiwi quickly fell into the clutches of Freddie Slater who was able to pounce and grab a third place he would comfortably hold until the end.
Scoular then found himself under pressure from fellow Kiwi Louis Sharp, who grabbed fourth on the penultimate lap.
James Wharton was the best-placed Aussie in sixth place ahead of Ernesto Rivera, Kanato Le, Jin Nakamura and Yuanpu Cui.
The top eight will be reversed on the grid for the second and final race of the day, which kicks off at 2:08pm AEDT.
How to watch Ryan Wood in Formula Regional Oceania
2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy – R2 Taupo Race 1
1
40
Ryan WOOD
NZL
MTEC Motorsport
2
4
Ugo UGOCHUKWU
USA
M2 Competition
3
27
Freddie SLATER
GBR
M2 Competition
4
11
Louis SHARP
NZL
MTEC Motorsport
5
3
Zack SCOULAR
NZL
MTEC Motorsport
6
13
James WHARTON
AUS
TJ Speed with HMD
7
24
Ernesto RIVERA
MEX
M2 Competition
8
19
Kanato LE
JPN
Hitech
9
12
Jin NAKAMURA
JPN
Hitech
10
5
Yuanpu CUI
CHN
MTEC Motorsport
11
21
Yevan DAVID
LKA
Kiwi Motorsport
12
52
Nolan ALLAER
USA
Giles Motorsport
13
22
Sebastian MANSON
NZL
M2 Competition
14
41
Ricardo BAPTISTA
BRA
TJ Speed with HMD
15
50
Jack TAYLOR
AUS
Giles Motorsport
16
69
Kalle ROVANPERÄ
FIN
Hitech
17
33
Fionn MCLAUGHLIN
IRL
Hitech
18
14
Cooper SHIPMAN
USA
Kiwi Motorsport
19
8
Trevor LATOURRETTE
USA
TJ Speed with HMD
