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Guide to the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 13 January 2023

Many young guns will be hunting success when the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship fires back to life this weekend.

Three years on from when now Red Bull F1 reserve driver Liam Lawson was crowned champion, the FIA certified open-wheel series is back on the international scene with a five-round 2023 season featuring many up and coming stars from Australia, New Zealand and around the world.

Ryder Quinn heads the Formula Ford Championship field at Morgan Park. Photo: MTR Images

Aussies Ryder Quinn and Tom McLennan are part of the 13-car grid, who are all determined to get their hands on the prestigious Chris Amon Trophy previously won by current F1 stars Lando Norris and Lance Stroll.

Not only is silverware on the line, but 18 coveted FIA Super Licence points are up for grabs, with points also awarded all the way down to the ninth place finisher.

With so much up for grabs, all the young racers lining up on the grid will be determined to show their skills and put their name up in lights.

Third-generation Queensland racer Quinn has been a Formula Ford frontrunner and finished third in the 2022 national series with three wins and 10 podiums.

McLennan enters the series off the back of a busy 2022, which included Formula Ford and Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge duties.

He had been lined up to drive for MTEC Motorsport, but was forced to make a late switch to Kiwi Motorsport after the former pulled out. 

In addition to the Aussies, four Kiwis Callum Hedge, Breanna Morris, Liam Sceats and James Penrose will be defending home turf.

Tom McLennan is suited up to take on the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship which begins this weekend.

A familiar name will be also be on the grid through Charlie Wurz. The Austrian youngster is the son of former Benetton, McLaren and Williams F1 driver Alexander Wurz, but has pedigree of his own having won the UAE F4 title. 

There is a strong American presence on the grid with Jacob Abel, Ryan Shehan, David Morales and Chloe Chambers all from the USA, while Brazil’s Lucas Fecury has also travelled across the Pacific Ocean.

Euroformula Open Championship race winner Josh Mason has come over from England, while Ireland’s Adam Fitzgerald will contest the final three rounds.

The drivers will be racing Toyota FT-60 open-wheelers, which is identical to the Tatuus F.3 T-318 used in various European F3 regional series and the W Series.

After this weekend’s running at Highlands Motorsport Park, the series then heads to Teretonga Park Raceway a week later before the halfway mark is reached at sweeping Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon.

The penultimate round of the championship takes place at the fast Hampton Downs will be the jewel in the crown, with the historic New Zealand Grand Prix taking place on February 5 before the season finale at former A1GP host circuit Taupo.

There will be no time to rest with the five rounds taking place in as many weeks within a month.

Action has already begun with the first practice session being held this (Friday) morning with Quinn landing the first blow.

The Aussie young gun just edged out Sceats by just 0.018s after a tight and competitive session as Wurz, Hedge and Abel were all within three tenths off the pace.

It sets the scene for a thrilling fight for the Chris Amon Trophy. 

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport

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