Scoular wins action-packed reversed-grid FRegional Oceania race

Photo: Bruce Jenkins / TGR NZ

MTEC Motorsport’s Zack Scoular won the second Formula Regional Oceania race, and first reversed-grid contest of 2026, at Hampton Downs.

He overtook Kiwi Motorsport’s Yevan David off the line, as Hitech GP’s Jin Nakamura took third from M2 Competition’s Freddie Slater before the latter reclaimed the place around the outside of turn one.

The pair continued squabbling until the safety car was summoned. HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed’s James Wharton had been spun by M2’s Sebastian Manson (who got a drive-through penalty) and looked to be beached, but got going again.

Racing however did not resume until lap four, and Nakamura was already alongside David at that point. In response, David went deep into turn one and then defended exiting the corner to stay ahead, then Slater and Nakamura went wheel-to-wheel again for several corners.

They banged wheels, Nakamura held third, and in the queue forming behind them Hitech’s Kanato Le lost his front wing.

Scoular broke clear by two seconds, and maintained that gap for the rest of the race until he weaved to the finish line.

Nakamura went down David’s inside at turn two on lap seven, and second place was settled as David locked up and then had to defend. Slater made contact with him as he tried passing, but soon he and MTEC’s Ryan Wood got ahead.

Wood’s first attempt at overtaking Slater was around the outside of turn one on lap 10 of 18, and four laps later a turn two dive also failed. Slater locked up at turn eight though, and David was all over him. On lap 16, Wood went wide exiting turn one and Slater had a little bit of breathing room thereon.

“That was the longest race ever,” said Slater afterwards. “Too much pressure from behind, didn’t really have any pace to answer. So we definitely need to do some digging overnight to find some more laptime.”

David was down to ninth by the finish, ahead of the constantly squabbling Red Bull-backed duo of Fionn McLaughlin and single-seater debutant Kalle Rovanpera.

However post-race there were a fleet of penalties for idential offences, with Louis Sharp (MTEC), Nolan Allaer (Giles Motorsport), Jack Taylor (Giles) being demoted from sixth, seventh and eighth to 13th, ninth and 10th.

Several drivers further back pitted, seeking fresher rubber and clean air to go for the fastest lap which will impact race four’s grid. It was claimed by M2’s Ernesto Rivera.

Race results (18 laps)