You can catch New Zealand's next big Formula 1 hope Louis Sharp (2021-2023) in action this summer as he prepares for the biggest season of his motorsport career to date.

Louis, who has been signed by Prema Racing for the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship, will return to home soil to contest the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship, where he will mount a full title challenge ahead of his international campaign. The four-round championship concludes with the prestigious New Zealand Grand Prix.

At just 18 years of age, Louis is already regarded as one of New Zealand’s hottest single-seater prospects. Born in Nottingham in the UK and raised in Christchurch, Louis started karting at the age of six and by 12 had established himself as the country’s leading age-group karter. Louis secured more national titles and series wins than any driver before, or since.

His move into single-seater racing came in 2020 in New Zealand’s Formula First Championship, a category that has launched the careers of drivers such as Scott Dixon, Shane van Gisbergen and Liam Lawson. Race wins there led to a step up into Formula Ford, and in 2021 Louis was leading the championship when he received a call-up from Carlin Motorsport to compete in British Formula 4.

Despite missing the opening rounds of the 2022 British F4 season due to age restrictions, Louis finished an impressive fourth overall, recording two race wins and twelve podiums. That same year he added the UAE F4 Trophy Championship title to his growing list of achievements.

Success continued in 2023 when he returned to British F4 and claimed the championship title, before progressing to win the GB3 Championship in 2024. In 2025, Louis stepped up to FIA Formula 3 for his rookie season, where his speed and consistency earned him a coveted drive with Prema Racing for 2026.

Speaking about his return to New Zealand competition, Louis said he was thrilled to be joining mtec Motorsport for the Oceania campaign.

“This championship has been on my bucket list since I first started karting, so to be aligning myself with both Tony Quinn and mtec is a dream come true,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to draw from the knowledge and experience they both hold.”

You will be able to follow Louis closely throughout the summer. Qualifying and races will be livestreamed on TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand’s YouTube channel, with races also broadcast on Sky Sport and streamed globally on Motorsport.TV.

With his sights firmly set on the international stage, this summer offers a rare chance to see a future Formula 1 contender — and proud old boy — competing right here at home.

2026 Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy

Rd1      9-11 January        -        Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park

Rd2      16-18 January      -        Taupo International Motorsport Park

Rd3      23-25 January      -        Teretonga Raceway, Invercargill

Rd4      30 Jan -1st Feb     -        70th New Zealand Grand Prix – Highlands International Motorsport Park