For my own personal first interview of 2025, I’m delighted to have been able to do this one with current Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Championship(CTFROC) and 2024 Macau Grand Prix driver, Jett Bowling.
Jett is representing Kiwi Motorsport in CTFROC having run with the team last year and in Macau, and here, we chat about 2025 plans, Macau, the appeals of racing in New Zealand and more!
AJ: What compelled you to try CTFROC this year?
JB: A big goal for 2024 and 2025 was/is to get as much seat time as possible. On top of that because I started racing later than most other drivers, it’s important that I spend seat time racing, not just testing. So with those goals in mind and having already run FR Americas with Kiwi Motorsport in the US it made it an easy decision to do CTFROC.
Which circuit on the CTFROC calendar are you most excited for?
Definitely Highlands Motorsports Park. It’s got long loaded corners, corners with banking, a bridge, and a bus stop! What isn’t there to like about the track? I can’t wait.
📸 Highlands Motorsport Park.
Is there any one CTFROC driver you’re most happy to be racing against?
Good question, I’ve never heard this one before. I don’t think there’s any one racer that is a specific target or anything like that. Obviously it’s nice to go against acclaimed drivers like Arvid Lindblad and Will Brown, simply to see where I stack up against them. Otherwise I try to think of all drivers as the same once we’re in the car.
📸 Arvid Lindblad.
What do you hope to learn from the series?
My personal goal is to leave the series with a better mindset and emphasis on qualifying/one lap pace. It’s been a struggle of mine throughout my career. It’s my aim to leave being able to find the limit of the car quicker throughout the session.
This is your second time in CTFROC - what made you want to come back?
Yeah, like I said previously: the major pull factor was seat time. Also, I know what a great job Toyota does at promoting the series and taking care of us drivers. Further this is my first time participating in a series for a second time in my career, so it’s been nice to see what that’s like.
Elsewhere, you raced in Macau last year - what an experience that must have been?
Ah Macau, what a blessing it was to go to the track with Kiwi Motorsport. Sadly it didn’t go the way any of us wanted it to. But it was an amazing experience despite the wet and tricky conditions. Driving through a city like that is stuff I had dreamed of since I was a kid.
Is the plan to go back this year too?
I’m not entirely sure yet. It’s quite a ways away and there’s lots of factors involved: if Kiwi Motorsport gets a bid again, if I don’t have any conflicts with other races, etc.
Could you tell us any of your other racing plans for the year, or are we being kept waiting?
Haha no worries, no secrets here mate. Nothing is set in stone at the moment but the current plan is to run in FR Americas as the main championship for this 2025 season.
What’s the best looking race car of all time?
Great question, the American in me says a Ford GT40 MKII, but the current BMW LMDH is a beautiful car. So I’ll say it’s a tie between those.
📸 BMW LMDh.
Who’s your racing hero?
Alain Prost is a big inspiration of mine. He started racing at 14 years old, and I started at 15, both very late compared to other drivers. But knowing that someone can make it to the top level starting late gives me greater confidence. I also think he has one of the coolest nicknames in Motorsport: “The Professor.”
📸 ‘The Professor’.
Big thanks to Jett for his time! Let’s hope to speak with him again some time soon!
📸 Image credits: Jett Bowling, Toyota NZ, Formula Motorsport Limited, BMW, McLaren Racing.
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