Photo: TGR NZ
Kaleb Ngatoa will race in Formula Regional Oceania full-time this year after winning in a part-time campaign in 2023.
The 22-year-old first raced in the New Zealand-based championship in 2021, when it was known as the Toyota Racing Series, and came second in the standings. There were only nine races across three rounds that year, and M2 Competition driver Ngatoa came second in two of them. He also took pole for the New Zealand Grand Prix in a wet qualifying session.
Ngatoa then moved on to Australia’s S5000 series, winning races in 2021 and ’22. He made a FRegional Americas cameo in the first of those two years, then in 2023 he returned to FRegional Oceania with Giles and won on his comeback race. One other podium from his six races put him 14th in the standings.
His old team M2 had set up a driver management company, and once Ngatoa joined its ranks he was sent to race in the FRegional Japanese Championship. But he only did one round of that, and one round of S5000 too.
The 2016 Formula First Manfeild Winter Series champion and 2017-18 FFirst NZ runner-up now wants to make sure he can add more major trophies to his cabinet by committing to the entirety of the five-round FRegional Oceania schedule.
“I’m lucky enough to have driven the [Tatuus] FT-60 a few times now,” he said. “I enjoy all the tracks we’re racing and I’m really excited to get at it and race some of the best young drivers in the world.
“The Giles team won races last season and they want to win more just as much as I do. I know we both will be working just as hard to have a strong championship campaign and get the ball moving immediately.
“I know i’m going to enjoy this championship. It’s going to be tough but I enjoy good competition and hard racing, pressure is a privilege and I’m grateful to have the opportunity. I’m very focused on building on my win and pace last season. I’m already working hard and close with the team to get this campaign going.”
Giles’ team principal Stephen Giles added: “Last year with very limited mileage, Kaleb came straight into the championship and showed his talent by winning his first race with us against a very competitive field and we’ll be looking to build on that relationship for a chance at winning the title.”
The team has also announced Landan Matriano Lim as joining its line-up. The 21-year-old came 35th in United States Formula 4 last year with a best finish of 13th.
MTEC Motorsport now has three drivers signed for FRegional Oceania, with 18-year-old Kaden Probst being its latest addition. He has experience of the series’ previous-generation car from racing in open single-seater series in New Zealand.