New team for Oceania series
Hitech, a well-known international single-seater motorsport team, has become the sixth outfit to confirm its spot in the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy.
The team will enter as Hitech TGR and field three cars as they embark on a long-term commitment to the New Zealand-based championship.
They will line up on the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy grid next year alongside Giles Motorsport, Kiwi Motorsport, M2 Competition, mtec Motorsport and HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed.
Hitech’s first full campaign was a three-car entry in the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European championship and they have since expanded into FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3, GB3, British Formula 4, Formula Winter Series and F1 Academy.
The team has also competed in the Formula Regional European, Asian and Middle East series and former drivers include George Russell, Alex Palou, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Marcus Armstrong, Dennis Hauger, Sebastian Montoya, Jack Doohan and Juri Vips.
Phil Blow, Hitech GB3 team manager, will head up the New Zealand effort and says they are excited to be joining the Oceania competition.
“In recent years, we have sent Hitech drivers to the series for off-season mileage and to gain further experience, but as the championship continues to go from strength to strength, the time is right for us to have a fully-fledged Hitech team in New Zealand,” he explains.
“As ever, we look forward to the competition, and to providing three young drivers in the region with the opportunity to gain a foothold on the junior single-seater ladder and begin their progression.”
The news comes after US outfit HMD Motorsport with TJ Speed recently announced it was joining the 2026 series as a raft of changes make it easier for northern hemisphere teams and drivers to compete by avoiding clashes with other events.
Nicolas Caillol, Toyota Gazoo Racing New Zealand motorsport manager, says: “This is the sixth team for the 2026 championship and is another with an exceptionally high profile and track record in international motorsport, so this is only good news for the championship.”
