Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
FIA Formula 3 race winner Pedro Clerot will race in the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy for series debutants Rodin Motorsport in 2027. He will line up alongside his 2027 F3 team-mate Reza Seewooruthun, who has raced for the team in this year’s FRegional Europe championship, and New Zealander Toby McCormack.
While Clerot has not raced the Gen2 FRegional car that FROT will be using for the first time in 2027, he has two years of experience in Formula Regional in Europe, triumphing twice in 2025 as he finished fourth in the FREC standings.
Announcing his FROT campaign the 19-year-old Brazilian said that “with the new car, the championship is going to be a very interesting challenge, and I’m really happy to continue my preparation for my second season with Rodin in FIA Formula 3. Obviously, we’ll be aiming to fight for the championship and looking to be at the front.
“The time in the car, the focus on mileage and a packed timetable of testing, practice, qualifying and racing will be really valuable for me in preparation for my F3 season. I’m very much looking forward to travelling to New Zealand and being part of the team in its first season in FROT.”
Unlike Clerot, Seewooruthun has had a full season in the Tatuus T-326 chassis, which forms the basis for the GRF-70 model used in FROT, finishing 16th in FREC this year, and he will also compete for Rodin at the FIA FR World Cup at Macau before heading to New Zealand.
The British driver commented that “making this step with a team I trust means a lot. We’ve built something special together this year and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve next.”
The pair will be joined at Rodin by local racer Toby McCormack who has won three national titles in older Toyota Racing Series machinery following a successful Formula Ford career in his domestic series. The Aucklander has set his sights on “the Trans-Tasman Cup, which of course is limited to Australian and New Zealand drivers” and provides the winner with a guaranteed entry to the Macau Grand Prix at the end of 2027.
Rodin Motorsport’s Sporting Director, Benn Huntingford commented that “FROT has a long history of attracting some of the most promising young talent and with Rodin’s roots in New Zealand, this programme is a natural fit for us. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
Two of the other five teams have also named one driver each so far. Arjen Kraling, who finished 20th in Italian Formula 4 with a podium at Vallelunga, will drive for TJ Speed Motorsports.
He will be joined on the grid by AJ Foyt Racing development driver Aidan Schuh, who has signed for Kiwi Motorsport. Schuh has been racing this season in the Formula Regional Americas Championship with Crosslink Motorsports, which linked earlier up this year with the Indy legend’s team.
The organizers of the series have confirmed a full grid of 22 cars, with each of the six teams fielding three cars with four additional entries available only for Kiwi drivers. Intriguingly, the championship has left open a possible a wild card car entry for the final round, the 71st New Zealand Grand Prix itself, “amidst on-going rumours about big-name drivers wanting to take part.”
Tozota GAZOO Racing NZ Motorsport Manager Nicolas Caillol talked of the organizer’s pride “that drivers and teams from across the world see New Zealand as an essential part of their journey to the highest levels of motorsport. Our focus remains on creating an environment that challenges young drivers, accelerates their development and prepares them for success on the world stage.”