Charlie Wurz extends FR Oceania championship lead with Teretonga victory
Austrian Charlie Wurz has extended his Toyota Formula Regional Oceania championship lead with victory at Teretonga Park.
Charlie Wurz, Callum Hedge, and Jacob Abel on the podium for race one at Teretonga Park. (Fox Sports)
Rival Callum Hedge qualified on pole but Wurz had an incredible start from second on the grid, firing into the lead by turn one.
Wurz held his line around the outside and set about consolidating his lead over the following 25 laps, with Hedge hot on his tail until the chequered flag.
Despite holding the championship lead after round one, the victory was the first of the season for the Austrian M2 Competition driver.
"We got the start that we wanted, we weren't so happy after qualifying but finally we got Callum at the start," said Wurz.
"It was honestly much more difficult to start here, I think the track is a bit less grippy, so we had to manage the clutch a lot more."
"I wasn't sure going into the start that I would get a good one, I could have got a really bad one or a really good one, I wasn't sure at all."
"Luckily it was on the good side, and from there on it was just managing my pace, not to keep pushing, because Callum was right behind.”
"He was fully in my mirrors; my mirrors were full of the white and blue of Callum's car."
"Happy to win and hopefully we can keep this momentum in the next races."
The pair finished 15 seconds ahead of Jacob Abel, who led a gaggle of challengers battling for the final podium position in the final laps.
American Abel and Briton Josh Mason had been inseparable throughout the race, with Kiwi James Penrose and round one race-winner David Morales joining the battle in the final stages.
Abel held off his rivals to take third at the chequered flag.
Aussie Ryder Quinn was eighth, with countryman Thomas McLennan eleventh.
Round two of the 2023 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania series continues Sunday.
2023 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania - Round Two Teretonga Park Race 1
- Charlie Wurz
- Callum Hedge (NZ)
- Jacob Abel
- Josh Mason
- James Penrose (NZ)
- David Morales
- Liam Sceats (NZ)
- Ryder Quinn (AUS)
- Ryan Shehan
- Chloe Chambers
- Thomas McLennan (AUS)
- Lucas Fecury
- Breanna Morris (NZ)
