Formula Regional dates revealed
Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand (TGRNZ) has revealed the dates for its landmark 20th anniversary single-seater season.
The 2025 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship (CTFROC) will race on five different circuits over five consecutive weekends beginning in January next year.
Making its debut as the Toyota Racing Series in 2004, the competition has been a regular fixture on the international motorsport calendar, missing only one season in 2022 due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Next season will be its third as one of the FIA’s Formula Regional Championships and it’s the only one of those to boast a fully FIA-sanctioned grand prix.
A grid capped at 20 vehicles will line up for the opening weekend at Taupo International Motorsport Park in support of the Historic Grand Prix Event on January 10-12. The second round is the following weekend on the full Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park layout.
The third round around the challenging and cambered turns of Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon takes place on January 24-26 before the drivers head to the South Island for a return to Teretonga Raceway at Invercargill over the weekend of January 31 to February 2.
The unique challenges of Highlands International Motorsport Park – and the 69th New Zealand Grand Prix – bring the championship to a conclusion from February 7-9.
New Zealand’s premier motorsport championship has long been a proving ground for the best rising talent.
Over the past 20 years, it has seen 24 of its graduates test, practice or race in an official Formula One Grand Prix weekend or test session. The most recent – 2020’s rookie champion, Franco Colapinto – enjoyed a solid grand-prix debut with 12th place for Williams at Monza in late August.
Countless others have achieved success in other formulae ranging from Supercars to the Indycar Series and Le Mans prototypes to Formula E.
Last year’s rookie champion, Patrick Woods-Toth, recently won the Formula Regional Americas title while 2023 race winner Louis Foster took out the Indy Nxt Championship.
TGRNZ motorsport manager, Nicolas Caillol, says the 2025 season will be no different.
“The calendar dates traditionally give the champions of tomorrow a great opportunity to gain significant mileage and sharpen their skills ahead of northern-hemisphere campaigns,” he explains.
“The TRS and CTFROC series have always appealed to those who want to succeed at the highest levels. That’s recognised by the FIA too, which has over time increased the allocation of Super Licence points.
“As one of only five Formula Regional championships in the world, drivers considering the 20th anniversary championship can expect exceptionally high quality once again.”
