The initial disappointment
The single-seater debut of Kalle Rovanperä, two-time WRC world champion, was decidedly negative for the Finnish driver, who had stunned everyone with his decision at the end of 2025 to leave rallying to dedicate himself to open-wheel racing. Specifically, the 25-year-old initially had to interrupt Super Formula testing due to dizziness, later obtaining disappointing results in the first two rounds of Formula Regional Oceania, the competition where the former Toyota driver is currently competing.
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The first sign
In the third round of the calendar, held at the New Zealand circuit of Teretonga, the first podium joy arrived instead, moreover under heavy rain. A weekend characterized by both bad weather and the excellent performance of the Briton Freddie Slater (who just became the first driver of Audi’s Driver Development Programme), winner in both Race 1 and Race 4. In the first race, the 17-year-old managed to defend against pressure from Jin Nakamura and especially from Rovanperä, who managed to give his best, celebrating his first top-3 finish with a final 3rd place.
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Ugochukwu vs Slater: the grand finale
The rain, which increased significantly, forced Race Direction to cancel the second scheduled race, while Race 3 instead saw the success of Ugo Ugochukwu. The American, who will participate in his second Formula 3 season this year, thus defends his championship leadership with one race remaining until the end of the championship scheduled at Highlands Motorsport Park, but with a lead of only 22 points over Slater.
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