{"id":404436,"date":"2026-01-10T15:58:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T15:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/404436\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T15:58:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T15:58:19","slug":"ugo-ugochukwu-takes-first-formula-regional-oceania-pole-at-hampton-downs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/404436\/","title":{"rendered":"Ugo Ugochukwu takes first Formula Regional Oceania pole at Hampton Downs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Ex-McLaren
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUgo Ugochukwu took pole position for the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy season-opener at Hampton Downs. <\/p>\n

Ugochukwu was just 0.007s faster than Sharp, who was the best of the MTEC Competition quartet.<\/p>\n

Freddie Slater (M2 Competition) was third ahead of Kanato Le (Hitech TGR) and Supercars star Ryan Wood (MTEC Motorsport).<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s James Wharton was eighth while compatriot Jack Taylor wound up 12th.<\/p>\n

WRC champion Kalle Rovanpera could only manage the 16th fastest time int he 19-car field, and was one second away from the pole position time.<\/p>\n

The session ran without incident, with the best times coming late in the 15-minute affair.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat way to start my campaign here in New Zealand,\u201d said former McLaren junior<\/a> Ugochukwu.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a good couple of days. The pace has been good, so I was pretty confident coming into qualifying knowing I just had to put a good lap together.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole quali we were quick, always up the front, so I just had to keep chipping away and try to go faster and faster as the session went on.\u201d<\/p>\n

LIVE: Ryan Wood in Formula Regional Oceania<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Sharp said he still had more time to find.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely tried. I had two laps within two hundredths of pole, so it was a shame not either one of them was quite enough,\u201d said Sharp.<\/p>\n

\u201cMassive thank you to the team, MTEC. I think this is a really good way to start the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest, there\u2019s still a little bit [of time] out there everywhere. As a driver you\u2019re never perfect. There\u2019s more I can do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll look at some data with the team and see where we can make the gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Race 1 of the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy at Hampton Downs is scheduled for 10am AEDT.<\/p>\n

Results: Formula Regional Oceania Trophy Hampton Downs, Qualifying 1<\/p>\n

Pos
\nNum
\nDriver
\nLap
\nDiff
\nLaps
\nBest Lap<\/p>\n

1
\n4
\nUgo Ugochukwu
\n1:29.267<\/p>\n

9
\n7<\/p>\n

2
\n11
\nLouis Sharp
\n1:29.274
\n0.007
\n9
\n8<\/p>\n

3
\n27
\nFreddie Slater
\n1:29.409
\n0.142
\n9
\n7<\/p>\n

4
\n19
\nKanato Le
\n1:29.496
\n0.229
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n

5
\n40
\nRyan Wood
\n1:29.560
\n0.293
\n9
\n9<\/p>\n

6
\n12
\nJin Nakamura
\n1:29.563
\n0.296
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n

7
\n3
\nZack Scoular
\n1:29.731
\n0.464
\n9
\n9<\/p>\n

8
\n13
\nJames Wharton
\n1:29.777
\n0.510
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n

9
\n21
\nYevan David
\n1:29.792
\n0.525
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n

10
\n24
\nErnesto Rivera
\n1:29.844
\n0.577
\n9
\n6<\/p>\n

11
\n5
\nYuanpu Cui
\n1:29.852
\n0.585
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n

12
\n50
\nJack Taylor
\n1:29.998
\n0.731
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n

13
\n52
\nNolan Allaer
\n1:30.058
\n0.791
\n8
\n5<\/p>\n

14
\n22
\nSebastian Manson
\n1:30.154
\n0.887
\n9
\n8<\/p>\n

15
\n33
\nFionn McLaughlin
\n1:30.241
\n0.974
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n

16
\n69
\nKalle Rovanpera
\n1:30.307
\n1.040
\n9
\n5<\/p>\n

17
\n14
\nCooper Shipman
\n1:30.353
\n1.086
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n

18
\n41
\nRicardo Baptista
\n1:30.777
\n1.510
\n8
\n6<\/p>\n

19
\n8
\nTrevor LaTourrette
\n1:31.765
\n2.498
\n8
\n8<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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