Callum Hedge regains FR Oceania lead with two races to go

Kiwi Callum Hedge has taken back the lead of the Toyota Formula Regional Oceania series with just two races to go.

Hedge was given valuable breathing space after a start-line incident saw the race suspended behind the safety car.

Despite holding the lead and pushing away from the pack at the restart, the Kiwi was quickly under pressure from Briton Louis Foster.

The Indy Pro 2000 champion threw challenge after challenge at Hedge but it wasn't enough, with Hedge crossing the line ahead of Foster and Laurens van Hoepen.

With the victory, Hedge turned a ten point deficit behind rival Charlie Wurz into a three point advantage heading into the final two races of the season.

“It was a hard race and Louis was definitely quicker than me,” said Hedge.

“It’s always good to race against people as good as Louis and put one on him, especially as he was a tenth or two quicker than me."

"My total focus was the start as we hadn’t done good practice starts."

"I know it’s very hard to pass here so I did what I had to do to take the win.”

New Zealand Grand Prix champion van Hoepen had a lonely race in third ahead of Liam Sceats.

Jacob Abel was taken out of the race in the opening-lap drama, turned around mid-corner by countryman David Morales.

Abel was collected by teammate James Penrose and Breanna Morris, with all three retiring without completing a lap.

Morales finished seventh but a post-race penalty dropped him to fourteenth and the final classified driver.

The 2023 Castrol Formula Regional Oceania season concludes on with two final races on Sunday.

2023 Castrol Formula Regional Oceania - Taupo Race 1

1. Callum Hedge (NZ)
2. Louis Foster
3. Laurens van Hoepen
4. Liam Sceats (NZ)
5. Charlie Wurz
6. Kaleb Ngatoa (NZ)
7. Josh Mason
8. Chloe Chambers
9. Ryder Quinn (AUS)
10. Ryan Shehan
11. Adam Fitzgerald
12. Tom McLennan (AUS)
13. Lucas Fecury
14. David Morales
15. Bree Morris (NZ) - DNF
16. James Penrose (NZ) - DNF
17. Jacob Abel - DNF