Callum Hedge wins Toyota Formula Regional opener at Highlands

Kiwi Callum Hedge has taken a lights-to-flag victory in the Toyota Formula Regional Oceania opener at Highlands.

After setting the track ablaze when he qualified seven-tenths clear of the rest of the field in qualifying, the 18-year-old was well clear of the field before the race finished behind the safety car.

"It's fantastic to win and finish off a good day," said Hedge.

"I was feeling pretty comfortable with the car but I felt that I had to go very hard from the start and I spent the warm up laps really working the tyres hard to ensure they would be ready."

Charlie Wurz and David Morales completed the podium, with Wurz earning the best start in the field, moving from fourth on the grid up to second by the first corner.

Morales added a hint of drama to the podium in the final stages, quickly gaining on the Austrian driver in second but unable to pass Wurz before the safety car.

Australian Ryder Quinn was brought into the action late in the race when he caught the rear end of the tense battle between Americans Jacob Abel and Ryan Shehan for sixth.

Pushing hard to escape Abel, Shehan lost control and run wide through the forest section into the wall, bringing out the safety car.

The race finished behind the safety car, with Hedge taking the chequered flag ahead of Wurz and Morales.

Quinn finished seventh, with fellow Aussie Tom McLennan in eleventh after a technical issue saw him start from pit lane.

The Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania field returns for two races tomorrow, beginning with race two at 11.00am (AEDT).

2023 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship - Highlands Race One

1. Callum Hedge (NZ)
2. Charlie Wurz
3. David Morales
4. Josh Mason
5. Liam Sceats (NZ)
6. Jacob Abel
7. Ryder Quinn (AUS)
8. James Penrose (NZ)
9. Chloe Chambers
10. Lucas Fecury
11. Tom McLennan (AUS)
12. Breanna Morris (NZ)
13. Ryan Shehan - DNF