Photo: Red Bull
Red Bull junior Ernesto Rivera will start 2026 racing in Formula Regional Oceania as part of M2 Competition’s line-up.
The 17-year-old Mexican heads to New Zealand before stepping up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Campos Racing.
Rivera has two years of single-seater experience under his belt, most of it with Campos. He debuted in the 2024 Formula Winter Series, coming 15th with one podium, then was fifth in Spanish Formula 4 with one win and one other podium.
A points-scoring British F4 cameo with Hitech GP completed his 2024 schedule, and Rivera’s 2025 began with Pinnacle Motorsport in FRegional Middle East. He made the podium once en route to ninth in the standings, then returned to Campos for the finale of Eurocup-3’s winter series.
That preceded a campaign in the main Eurocup-3 championship, in which he scored three wins, four other podiums, two poles and came fourth in the standings. Rivera had been championship leader at the season’s halfway point, but only scored twice in the last four rounds.
Also joining FRegional Oceania are Cadi Baptista (HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed) and Ryan Wood (MTEC Motorsport).
Baptista, 18, came 10th in his home country Brazil’s F4 championship this year and the highlight was a win at Autodromo Velo Citta.
“I am really looking forward to driving in New Zealand and to experience racing outside of Brazil and Europe for the first time,” he said. “I want to score points in the races and learn as much as I can, it’s going to be a great experience and hopefully will set me up for a strong 2026 season in the northern hemisphere.”
Wood will be making his single-seater debut in FRegional Oceania, just like Hitech’s Kalle Rovanpera.
The 22-year-old Kiwi started off in sportscars, then progressed into tin-tops two years ago via Australia’s second-tier Super2 Series. He took five wins, four poles and ended up third in the points table. He was driving for the Walkinshaw Andretti United team, who promoted him to its Australian Supercars line-up for 2024.
Two fourth places were the best results of his rookie campaign, while in 2025 he got through the title fight’s first cutoff stage to come 10th in the points table. He won one race, finished third six times, and started on pole on three occasions.
“I’m super excited to make my open-wheel racing debut, for me it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do and especially with Toyota and in FRegional Oceania,” Wood revealed. “I’ve watched the championship since I was in karts so to be doing it now and on home soil is very exciting.
“For me the four weeks of racing is all about learning and preparing for the 2026 season. I’m delighted to join MTEC and learn off my team-mates and develop as a driver. It’s a real full circle moment racing Toyotas in NZ again after starting in 86s so I can’t wait to get into it!”