Photo: TGR NZ

Jin Nakamura was fastest in Formula Regional Oceania free practice at Highlands Motorsport Park, as Liam Sceats returned to the grid.

Sceats was championship runner-up in 2024 and won the New Zealand Grand Prix, and the 20-year-old Kiwi is aiming to repeat the latter feat this weekend as that race wraps up the season.

He has joined HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed’s line-up in a deal that was only struck last weekend, and he knows both teams in the joint entry well. In 2024 he came fifth in USF Pro 2000 with TJ Speed, and last year he stepped up to Indy Nxt with HMD for a part-time campaign and had a best finish of sixth place en route to 18th in the standings.

Sceats got back in the FRegional cockpit during pre-event testing on Thursday, which was split into two sessions. M2 Competition’s Ugo Ugochukwu was quickest with a 1m29.206s lap, and he had gaps of 0.125 seconds and 0.163s to MTEC Motorsport’s Ryan Wood and Louis Sharp in second and third.

HMD with TJ Speed’s James Wharton, returning to the paddock after missing a round, was fourth fastest and Sceats was 1.317s off the pace in 16th after six months out of action.

Practice followed on Friday, and in FP1 it was Hitech GP’s Jin Nakamura who set the pace. His final-lap 1m28.279s effort earned him top spot by just 0.043s over Wharton, with Ugochukwu also within 0.1s of him. Kanato Le (Hitech), Yuanpu Cui (MTEC) and Freddie Slater (M2) all trailed by less than a quarter of a second, Sceats was seventh and a second split the top 17.

FP2 was a slightly slower session, as a 1m28.567s was enough to put Zack Scoular (MTEC) on top and lift him from 17th to seventh overall in the combined classifications of the two sessions. He edged Ugochukwu by 0.095s, Sceats by 0.13s and Nakamura by 0.153s. Scoular was the sole driver in the 19-car field to improve on their FP1 pace.

In FP3, Wood was fastest. He set a 1m28.791s late on, improving on another sub-1m29s laptime that had been deleted, and led Wharton by 0.069s. Sceats was 0.258s back in third, and Sharp was 0.598s off in fourth. Nobody set personal bests, and Scoular was absent.

Free practice results

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Photo: Penske Entertainment / Matt Fraver

Indy Nxt teams tested at Sebring on January 20/21, and the big story to emerge from the test were the decisions from IndyCar’s new independent officiating system.

Abel Motorsports was penalised along with its cars driven by Max Garcia, Jordan Missig, Colin Kaminsky and Myles Rowe.

The team was found to have been “in violation of an additional testing limitation” and rig use:

During off-season preparation for the 2026 Indy Nxt season, IndyCar Officiating determined Abel Motorsports tested gearboxes on a rig, which is used to gather and supply data. Rig testing of any race equipment, whether separately or in any combination, is prohibited in the Indy Nxt rulebook.

 

According to the rulebook, the violation is considered a non-race procedure Penalty (9.2.3.), which includes the issuance of a monetary fine (6.10.1. and 9.2.3.2.) and issuance of a probation (9.2.3.3.).

 

Abel Motorsports has been fined $25,000 and must supply all data to IndyCar, which will then be distributed to all other teams in the interest of fairness and competitive balance. Abel Motorsports, including all four entrants, also have been placed on probation through the conclusion of the race at World Wide Technology Raceway, scheduled for Sunday, June 7 2026.

 

Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the Indy Nxt rulebook.

The June race at the Gateway oval is round six and race eight of the season, and almost the halfway point of the campaign.

Although data from rig testing is of use, anything which benefitted Abel’s pace is at Sebring is of limited relevance since the bumpy airfield track is not raced on by Indy Nxt.

HMD Motorsports’ Enzo Fittipaldi was the fastest driver in the test, with a gap of less than 0.1 seconds to Andretti Global’s Max Taylor in second place.

Alessandro de Tullio (AJ Foyt Racing), Garcia, Juan Manuel Correa (Cusick Morgan Motorsports) and Rowe completed the top six, with 24 drivers on track.

Andretti’s Lochie Hughes, who came third in the championship last year, was only 14th on the end-of-test timesheet.

The drivers who tested but currently do not have Indy Nxt race seats for 2026 were Matteo Nannini and Jack William Miller.

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Photo: Bruce Jenkins/TGR NZ

Ryan Wood scored his first single-seater win in the opening Formula Regional Oceania race of the weekend at Taupo before James Wharton triumphed in race two.

Wood and Wharton were the pacesetters across Friday’s three practice sessions, with Wood topping two of them and Wharton – who was never outside of the top three – edging him by 0.094 seconds to lead the other.

Supercars regular Wood managed to carry his form into Saturday morning’s qualifying session to take pole position by just 0.013s over championship leader Ugo Ugochukwu.

When the lights went out at the start of the first race, Ugochukwu got the better launch to nose ahead on the run to Turn 1, but Wood was able to hold the lead on the inside line.

After soaking up the early pressure from Ugochukwu in the opening laps, Wood set the fastest lap to start pulling away, and eventually took victory by 2.5s.

As he dropped back from Wood, Ugochukwu fell into the clutches of Zack Scoular, but was given the chance to escape when Scoular locked up into Turn 11 and run wide on lap eight. The mistake allowed Freddie Slater to get a run down the long back straight and get past, with Scoular locking up again into the chicane in his attempt to hold on.

Scoular would continue locking his brakes under pressure from Louis Sharp, who eventually found a way past for fourth place on the penultimate lap.

Wharton finished sixth and thus lined up third on the reversed grid for race two behind Kanato Le and Ernesto Rivera.

Le managed to hold off Rivera in the first corner of the race before Wharton then got a run around the outside of Rivera in Turn 2 to take second.

After sustained pressure forced Le into mistakes in Turn 11, Wharton took the lead using the push-to-pass down the back straight on lap seven. He would go on to win by 3.5s over Rivera, who had passed Le a few laps later.

Ugochukwu also got by Le to boost his championship lead with another podium finish in third while Le tumbled down the order, crossing the line eighth. Sharp won an entertaining battle with Wood and Slater for fourth.

Slater received a five-second time penalty for forcing Scoular off track at the start of the race. Scoular went on to pit and claim the fastest lap of the race, giving him pole for race three.

Results round-up
Race 1 (18 laps)
1 Ryan Wood MTEC Motorsport 25m25.001s
2 Ugo Ugochukwu M2 Competition +2.529s
3 Freddie Slater M2 Competition +5.638s
4 Louis Sharp MTEC Motorsport +8.758s
5 Zack Scoular MTEC Motorsport +9.596s
6 James Wharton HMD w/ TJ Speed +10.594s
7 Ernesto Rivera M2 Competition +13.107s
8 Kanato Le Hitech GP +16.176s
9 Jin Nakamura Hitech GP +29.235s
10 Yuanpu Cui MTEC Motorsport +29.522s
Pole: Wood, 1m23.258s
Fastest lap: Wood, 1m23.735s

Race 2 (18 laps)
1 Wharton 25m31.190s
2 Rivera +3.587s
3 Ugochukwu +3.719s
4 Sharp +7.150s
5 Wood +7.578s
6 Cui +11.408s
7 Le +12.707s
8 Slater +13.938s
9 Cadi Baptista HMD w/ TJ Speed +18.880s
10 Kalle Rovanpera Hitech GP +19.031s
FL: Scoular, 1m23.095s

Championship standings
1 Ugochukwu 160   2 Le 112   3 Nakamura 111   4 Slater 109   5 Sharp 108   6 Rivera 93   7 Wood 88   8 Wharton 86   9 Scoular 85   10 Cui 62

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Photo: Penske Entertainment / Travis Hinkle

Salvador de Alba will remain in Indy Nxt for a third season this year, ending his association with Andretti to join HMD Motorsports’ line-up.

The 26-year-old Mexican contested his rookie campaign with the joint Andretti Cape operation, then he moved into Andretti Global’s main line-up for 2025.

Although he came fifth in the standings in each of the last two seasons, de Alba’s sophomore campaign featured 87 more points as he followed up consistent top-five results in the first half of the year with a podium, a maiden victory at the Milwaukee Mile and then pole position for the final race at Nashville Superspeedway which he finished second in.

“The past two seasons in Indy Nxt have been a tremendous learning experience, and I’m excited to begin a new chapter with HMD Motorsports,” said de Alba.

“I gained strong momentum toward the end of last season, and I’m eager to carry that into 2026. The team has already shown incredible dedication to my success, and I’m grateful for all the support that’s helped me get here. Together, we’ll keep pushing towards IndyCar.”

Prior to Indy Nxt, de Alba was a NASCAR Mexico champion and then did two seasons in USF Pro 2000 to adapt to open-wheel cars. He won two oval races there, and in 2025 was the fastest driver in all of junior single-seaters around ovals.

“Salvador is an outstanding addition to our lineup and exactly what we were looking for heading into 2026,” HMD’s team president Mike Maurini said. “He brings valuable experience, a strong work ethic and a clear determination to succeed. We’re excited to support his continued development and help him reach the next level.”

There are now four drivers in HMD’s 2026 line-up, with de Alba the only non-rookie.

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Photo: Paul Hurley / IndyCar

HMD Motorsports has announced that reigning Euroformula champion Tymek Kucharczyk will relate his career to join its Indy Nxt line-up this season.

The 19-year-old Pole has four years of single-seater experience at lower levels, starting off in Spanish Formula 4 where he won once en route to third in the 2022 standings.

He spent the next two years in GB3, coming third as a sophomore with four race victories, then in 2025 won six times en route to the Euroformula title and in his first weekend racing Formula 3 cars finished 13th in the Macau Grand Prix.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to join HMD Motorsports,” said Kucharczyk. “Making the move to the American racing scene feels like the right next step, and the test I did with the team was really positive. I feel confident in what we can achieve together.

“Thank you to my main sponsor, Mubi.pl, and my supporting partners, Orlen Motorsport Academy and Iteo, as well as to HMD for their trust and support. I am committed to giving everything I have this year.”

He is the team’s third confirmed signing for the 2026 campaign, following fellow rookie Jack Beeton and Enzo Fittipaldi. HMD has one other yet to be announced driver.

“Tymek has shown tremendous potential throughout his career,” said the team’s president Mike Maurini.

“We are excited to help guide his development in the United States and see what we can accomplish together. The 2026 season will undoubtedly feature a strong line-up throughout the series, and we believe Tymek will be a valuable addition to it as he fights for race wins, podium results, rookie of the year honours and, ultimately, the Indy Nxt championship.”

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Photo: Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ

HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed have made a late addition to their Formula Regional Oceania line-up, announcing Trevor LaTourrette will drive one of their cars.

It is also a surprise signing since LaTourrette will be stepping up from a lesser-known Formula 4 series.

The 17-year-old American raced in the Skip Barber Formula Race Series last year, which is considered the first step on the ‘road to Indy’ since it is connected to the USF Pro championships that support IndyCar.

Since 2023, the Skip Barber Racing School was worked with the USF Pro-organising Anderson Promotions as it official racing school.

LaTourrette came fourth in the 2025 SBFRS standings, climbing up the points table after making the podium in each of the last four races.

“My primary goal for the 2026 FRegional Oceania season is to continue developing as a driver and hopefully put myself in a position to fight at the front,” he said of his next career step.

“This year’s grid is extremely competitive, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete against drivers of this calibre alongside an equally competitive team. This is a big step forward in my career I’m excited to be doing it in a high-standard environment such as FRegional Oceania.”

LaTourrette only started pursuing a route into motorsport a few years ago while recovering in hospital from a rare disease. His first on-track mileage in a vehicle came in 2023.

“My start in this sport did come later than most so I look forward to using this season as an opportunity to continue learning and improving. This season will certainly be a trial-by-fire, but I’m excited to face the challenges head on in front of a worldwide audience.”

The opening round of the FRegional Oceania season is at Hampton Downs this weekend, and LaTourrette will be team-mate to the Formula 2-experienced James Wharton and Cadi Baptista from Brazilian F4. This year will be the first that HMD and TJ Speed have entered the New Zealand-based contest, which has switched from championship to FIA Regional Trophy status.

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Photo: Red Bull

Red Bull junior Ernesto Rivera will start 2026 racing in Formula Regional Oceania as part of M2 Competition’s line-up.

The 17-year-old Mexican heads to New Zealand before stepping up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Campos Racing.

Rivera has two years of single-seater experience under his belt, most of it with Campos. He debuted in the 2024 Formula Winter Series, coming 15th with one podium, then was fifth in Spanish Formula 4 with one win and one other podium.

A points-scoring British F4 cameo with Hitech GP completed his 2024 schedule, and Rivera’s 2025 began with Pinnacle Motorsport in FRegional Middle East. He made the podium once en route to ninth in the standings, then returned to Campos for the finale of Eurocup-3’s winter series.

That preceded a campaign in the main Eurocup-3 championship, in which he scored three wins, four other podiums, two poles and came fourth in the standings. Rivera had been championship leader at the season’s halfway point, but only scored twice in the last four rounds.

Also joining FRegional Oceania are Cadi Baptista (HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed) and Ryan Wood (MTEC Motorsport).

Baptista, 18, came 10th in his home country Brazil’s F4 championship this year and the highlight was a win at Autodromo Velo Citta.

“I am really looking forward to driving in New Zealand and to experience racing outside of Brazil and Europe for the first time,” he said. “I want to score points in the races and learn as much as I can, it’s going to be a great experience and hopefully will set me up for a strong 2026 season in the northern hemisphere.”

Wood will be making his single-seater debut in FRegional Oceania, just like Hitech’s Kalle Rovanpera.

The 22-year-old Kiwi started off in sportscars, then progressed into tin-tops two years ago via Australia’s second-tier Super2 Series. He took five wins, four poles and ended up third in the points table. He was driving for the Walkinshaw Andretti United team, who promoted him to its Australian Supercars line-up for 2024.

Two fourth places were the best results of his rookie campaign, while in 2025 he got through the title fight’s first cutoff stage to come 10th in the points table. He won one race, finished third six times, and started on pole on three occasions.

“I’m super excited to make my open-wheel racing debut, for me it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do and especially with Toyota and in FRegional Oceania,” Wood revealed. “I’ve watched the championship since I was in karts so to be doing it now and on home soil is very exciting.

“For me the four weeks of racing is all about learning and preparing for the 2026 season. I’m delighted to join MTEC and learn off my team-mates and develop as a driver. It’s a real full circle moment racing Toyotas in NZ again after starting in 86s so I can’t wait to get into it!”

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Photo: Dutch Photo Agency

HMD Motorsports with TJ Speed, a new collaborative effort between two American teams, has named James Wharton as the first driver for its 2026 Formula Regional Oceania entry.

Top Indy Nxt outfit HMD, which has previously raced in IndyCar, struck a deal in November 2024 with USF Pro 2000 team TJ Speed for it to become a partner operation. The drivers that TJ Speed ran this year got the opportunity to do development with HMD on its simulator.

TJ Speed was established by Australian single-seater racing engineer Tim Neff, and the team previously competed in Indy Nxt. It was announced this July that it would enter FRegional Oceania in collaboration with HMD.

“This championship has a fine reputation throughout the world in junior formula racing and I see it as a very natural step in exactly the right time in my career,” said Wharton.

“I’ve got to trust in that process and do the best I can with a great team around me.”

Last month he made his Formula 2 debut, but the 19-year-old Australian will follow up his FRegional Oceania campaign with a second season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship next year. He did one round in the Formula 1 support series in 2024, then came 18th in the standings this year with one victory but only three other points-scoring races.

Wharton was Formula 4 United Arab Emirates champion, E4 runner-up and fourth in Italian F4 in 2023, then was FRegional European Championship runner-up and sixth in FRegional Middle East last year.

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Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd

Enzo Fittipaldi will return to single-seaters next year, joining HMD Motorsports’ line-up in Indy Nxt.

The 24-year-old competed in Formula 2 from 2021 to 2024, and has spent this year racing in the European Le Mans Series. Driving in its top class for LMP2 prototype sportscars, he came sixth in the standings with one podium.

During his 85-race spell in F2, Fittipaldi raced for three teams and in his two full campaigns was eighth and seventh in the standings. In total he claimed two wins, 11 other podiums and three fastest laps. He was also a Red Bull junior in 2023.

“I’m proud to begin this new chapter with HMD Motorsports in the 2026 Indy Nxt season,” said Fittipaldi, who is an American-Brazilian.

“Racing in Europe gave me valuable experience that made me a stronger driver. Now feels like the perfect time to take this step. My goal is IndyCar, and this season is where that journey begins.”

He has done two IndyCar tests so far. The first was with Dale Coyne Racing in late 2023, and the second was with McLaren in November 2024.

Earlier in his career he was a Ferrari Driver Academy member, as he won the Italian Formula 4 title and was Formula Regional European Championship runner-up.

His older brother Pietro, who he raced against in ELMS, has 27 IndyCar starts to his name and raced in it full-time last year. Their grandfather Emerson was the 1989 CART champion and Indianapolis 500 winner in 1989 and 1993.

“Enzo brings an incredible mix of talent and experience,” said HMD’s team president Mike Maurini.

“His background in F2, endurance racing and high-level testing will make him a strong competitor in Indy Nxt and a valuable resource for our younger drivers. I’ve known the Fittipaldi family since our karting days, and it’s great to be working with them again as we help Enzo progress toward the top of North American motorsport.”

Fittipaldi will be team-mate to FRegional graduate Jack Beeton and two other yet-to-be announced drivers.

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Photo: Penske Entertainment / Paul Hurley

HMD Motorsports has announced it has added Formula Regional graduate Jack Beeton to its Indy Nxt line-up for 2026.

The 17-year-old Australian came 13th in FRegional’s European and Middle East championships this year, claiming two sixth place finishes in the former and a victory in the latter.

He had spent two packed years in Formula 4 prior to that. Becoming F4 South East Asia champion was the highlight of his 2023, in which he contested three other series, then he was Italian F4 runner-up, eighth in E4, 10th in Formula Winter Series and 12th in F4 United Arab Emirates in 2024.

“I’m excited to join HMD Motorsports and take the next step in my career,” said Beeton.

“Competing in the Indy Nxt series will be an important challenge, and I’m looking forward to gaining experience and building on the open-wheel success I’ve had so far. The team has already made me feel at home, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Beeton jumps up from single-seaters’ fourth tier to IndyCar’s primary feeder series, and gained experience of Indy Nxt’s car from the championship’s official driver evaluation test at Autobahn Country Club in September then in this week’s post-season test on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course. His career is overseen by Nicolas Todt’s All Road Management firm.

“Jack showed impressive pace during his first outing with us at the driver evaluation test,” said HMD’s team president Mike Maurini said. “[He] is a proven race winner at every level of his motorsports journey, and he has a bright career ahead of him. He has already shown the focus and determination needed to take on this challenge, and we’re confident in his ability to continue learning and developing with the team.”

The next outing for Beeton will be in a test on November 10 at Barber Motorsports Park. He will be one of four HMD drivers next season, and is the first to be announced.

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