Ugo Ugochukwu takes Toyota FR Oceania opening round as crash interrupts final race
Ugo Ugochukwu dominated Sunday of the Toyota FR Oceania series at Hampton Downs.
WAIKATO, New Zealand–Ugo Ugochukwu dominated Sunday of the Toyota FR Oceania series at Hampton Downs, converting pole position into his second win of the day in the Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy, and taking out the round victory.
The American made a confident start, but the race was soon interrupted after significant contact between Sebastian Manson and Kalle Rovanperä, which sent the rally champion into the wall and took out bystanders Ryan Wood and Yevan David.
Ugochukwu lead the Hitech TGR duo of Jin Nakamura and Kanato Le from the restart, and he built to a comfortable lead by the chequered flag.
Behind the leaders it was Louis Sharp who looked strong in fourth, and drew close to the leaders around lap 10, with his new rival Freddie Slater close behind.
The Kiwi couldn't find a spot to pass Le and gave him some space, but the same could not be said for Slater, who finally made it past on lap 18 after a small mistake from his rival into turn one.
Ugochukwu took the flag ahead of Nakamura and Le, with Sharp and Scoular in fifth and sixth for New Zealand, while Aussie James Wharton rounded out the points in P10.
It was three winners in four races for the opening round, with Ugochukwu walking away with the round victory on 113 points.
The Japanese duo of Jin Nakamura and Kanato Le are second and third on 95 and 87 points respectively after each securing a handful of podiums. Local race winners Louis Sharp and Zack Scoular lead the Kiwi contingent in fourth and fifth respectively, while James Wharton is the lead Aussie, sitting in eighth position on 46 points.
The Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy now stays on the North Island but heads slightly south to South Waikato and the Taupo International Motorsport Park next weekend.
