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3d ago

Appeals Leave NZ GP Grid Provisional as Nakamura Takes Pole and Wood Is Reinstated

The finale features a provisional grid after stewards’ rulings left Ryan Wood racing under appeal with Ugo Ugochukwu penalized.

Ryan Wood during Formula Regional Oceania Trophy practice at Highlands Motorsport Park ahead of the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix.
Ugo Ugochukwu celebrates winning a Formula Regional Oceania Trophy race at Highlands Motorsport Park.
Ugo Ugochukwu won Saturday's CTFROT race at Highlands. Image: Joel Hanks
Kanato Le leads the Formula Regional Oceania field through the bus stop chicane during Race 2 at Highlands Motorsport Park. Image: John Cowpland

Overview

  • Jin Nakamura took New Zealand Grand Prix pole at Highlands by 0.1s over Ryan Wood after a three-part qualifying session.
  • Stewards disqualified Wood from Q3 for failing the minimum ride height check, but an appeal suspended the penalty so he starts under appeal without podium eligibility.
  • Ugo Ugochukwu won Saturday’s first race to extend his points lead and is set to start the Grand Prix from last following a qualifying penalty.
  • Kanato Le converted reverse-grid pole to win the curtain-raiser ahead of James Wharton and Liam Sceats, with Freddie Slater fifth and Ugochukwu seventh.
  • Freddie Slater won Friday’s rescheduled Teretonga race and will start fourth for the Grand Prix, leaving him 25 points behind Ugochukwu with one race remaining.