Auckland’s Sebastian Manson has today confirmed his place on the grid for the 2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy.
It will be the second straight season for the 17-year-old in his home country’s premier championship, and he will be hoping to build on the strong season he had in 2025 when he secured two race wins on his way to sixth overall. He is the first home driver to be confirmed for the 2026 championship.
Manson’s 2025 campaign was the foundation of his first full year racing internationally, and the former NZ National and South Island Formula Ford champion followed up his domestic campaign with a season in the USF Pro 2000 Championship and a run in the Japanese Formula Regional Championship, which netted second overall.
He’s hoping all of the hard work at home and abroad in 2025 will add up to an even stronger 2026 campaign.
‘I’m definitely excited to be back for a second full season,” he explained.
“It was really cool last time around, and I’m aiming higher for 2026. I want to build on those results and use the championship as a launch pad for an even stronger 2026 season.”
Seb will re-join multiple race and championship winners M2 Competition for the campaign and will get his season underway at what is effectively his home track, Hampton Downs, over the weekend of January 9-11.
The four-round championship takes in two race weekends in New Zealand’s North Island and two in the South Island and concludes with the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix.
Two new teams have been added to the championship for 2026, and a high-quality field of cars is expected. The championship is one of the most popular amongst rising global motorsport talent as a way for drivers to prepare for their northern hemisphere campaigns.
Over the years, the Castrol-supported championship has seen many top-line drivers take part, including Lando Norris and Liam Lawson, amongst more than 25 graduates who have driven officially in Formula One.
Fans will be able to follow the championship easily. Qualifying will be livestreamed on TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand’s YouTube channel. Races will also be on that channel and on SkySport domestically in New Zealand. Races will also be streamed live on the Motorsport.TV platform.
Header Image: Bruce Jenkins
The headline is wrong. Both Louis Sharp and Ryan Wood have already confirmed their participation.