{"id":419316,"date":"2026-01-17T15:13:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T15:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/419316\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T15:13:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T15:13:18","slug":"new-zealand-news-ryan-wood-sets-the-friday-pace-in-taupo-ctfrot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/419316\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand news: Ryan Wood sets the Friday pace in Taupo CTFROT"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Wood
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRyan Wood stamped his authority on Taupo qualifying. Image: Joel Hanks <\/p>\n

The mtec Motorsport driver produced his best effort when it mattered most, jumping to the top in the final minutes of the 15-minute session with a 1:23.258, capping a weekend in which he topped two of the three practice sessions on Friday<\/a> at a circuit where he claimed his first-ever Supercars podium last season.<\/p>\n

Wood, who is racing in his first season of single-seaters, had been among the front-running group throughout qualifying, but teammate Zack Scoular appeared set for pole after a sequence of fast laps gave him a two-tenths advantage midway through the session.<\/p>\n

That advantage disappeared late as Wood delivered a decisive final flying lap to deny the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cLouis [Sharp] and I went out and were going hard straight away,\u201d Wood said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were quick and we had a great car but it was tough to get those last couple of tenths out of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was confident, but made a few mistakes and was a bit hard on myself but that last one was definitely good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The top 10 was covered by just seven-tenths of a second, underlining the competitiveness of the session.<\/p>\n

Series leader Ugo Ugochukwu narrowly missed out on pole after a wobble in the final corner on his best lap, but the M2 Competition driver still secured a front-row start after a late improvement.<\/p>\n

Having won twice at the opening round at Hampton Downs, the American looms as Wood\u2019s primary challenger in the first race.<\/p>\n

Scoular will start third after his strong showing, with Freddie Slater completing an mtec Motorsport\u2013M2 Competition second row. Louis Sharp qualified fifth to round out a strong session for the mtec outfit, while Kanato Le was the fastest of the Hitech runners in sixth.<\/p>\n

Australian James Wharton, who set the pace in Friday\u2019s second practice, qualified seventh for TJ Speed with HMD Motorsports ahead of Jin Nakamura and Seb Manson.<\/p>\n

Yevan David completed the top 10, although Manson will drop to 14th on the grid due to a five-place penalty carried over from Hampton Downs.<\/p>\n

Further back, two-time world rally champion Kalle Rovanper\u00e4 qualified 14th but will start 13th after the application of Manson\u2019s penalty.<\/p>\n

The first race of the weekend takes place at 11am AEDT.<\/p>\n

2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy \u2013 R2 Taupo Qualifying<\/p>\n

1
\n40
\nRyan WOOD
\nNZL
\nMTEC Motorsport<\/p>\n

2
\n4
\nUgo UGOCHUKWU
\nUSA
\nM2 Competition<\/p>\n

3
\n3
\nZack SCOULAR
\nNZL
\nMTEC Motorsport<\/p>\n

4
\n27
\nFreddie SLATER
\nGBR
\nM2 Competition<\/p>\n

5
\n11
\nLouis SHARP
\nNZL
\nMTEC Motorsport<\/p>\n

6
\n33
\nFionn MCLAUGHLIN
\nIRL
\nHitech<\/p>\n

6
\n19
\nKanato LE
\nJPN
\nHitech<\/p>\n

7
\n13
\nJames WHARTON
\nAUS
\nTJ Speed with HMD<\/p>\n

8
\n12
\nJin NAKAMURA
\nJPN
\nHitech<\/p>\n

9
\n22
\nSebastian MANSON
\nNZL
\nM2 Competition<\/p>\n

10
\n21
\nYevan DAVID
\nLKA
\nKiwi Motorsport<\/p>\n

11
\n24
\nErnesto RIVERA
\nMEX
\nM2 Competition<\/p>\n

12
\n5
\nYuanpu CUI
\nCHN
\nMTEC Motorsport<\/p>\n

13
\n52
\nNolan ALLAER
\nUSA
\nGiles Motorsport<\/p>\n

14
\n69
\nKalle ROVANPER\u00c4
\nFIN
\nHitech<\/p>\n

15
\n50
\nJack TAYLOR
\nAUS
\nGiles Motorsport<\/p>\n

17
\n14
\nCooper SHIPMAN
\nUSA
\nKiwi Motorsport<\/p>\n

18
\n41
\nRicardo BAPTISTA
\nBRA
\nTJ Speed with HMD<\/p>\n

19
\n8
\nTrevor LATOURRETTE
\nUSA
\nTJ Speed with HMD<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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