Rising Star Yevan David begins 2026 season with Kiwi Motorsport in New Zealand-by Lawrence Machado
Source:Sundaytimes
After wrapping up his debut EuroFormula Open 2025 season in Monza, Italy, last October, Yevan now takes on the challenge of the four-round Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, New Zealand’s premier motorsport event, now in its 21st edition, as a prelude to his Formula 3 debut later this March in Australia.
Concluding his first full season in EuroFormula Open 2025, Yevan missed out on the overall championship title to Poland’s Tymek Kucharczyk by 17 points. However, he comfortably secured the Rookie Championship with 215 points, finishing 31 points clear of second-placed Everett Stack of the USA. In addition, he finished as Vice Champion of the EuroFormula Open and contributed significantly to Team Motopark’s Constructors’ Championship title.
“I’m very excited to be in New Zealand, where I will be racing for the next four weekends,” Yevan said in a video message posted upon his arrival in North Waikato.
The first Sri Lankan to compete in New Zealand, Yevan will begin his southern hemisphere campaign with the opening round of the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy at Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park this weekend. This will be followed by the second round at Taupo International Motorsport Park in Waikato from January 16 to 18. The championship then moves south to Teretonga Raceway, Invercargill, in the Southland District for the third round from January 23 to 25, with each of the first three rounds featuring four races. The final round, comprising three races, will coincide with the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix at Highlands International Motorsport Park from January 30 to February 1.
The gruelling schedule of 15 races across four weekends is expected to provide invaluable preparation and a fresh experience ahead of Yevan’s maiden Formula 3 season, which will include 10 race weekends.
“It’s going to be a completely new experience and there will be many things to learn. I’m excited to compete, to work with a new team and to achieve as much as possible,” Yevan told reporters at Hampton Downs during training sessions.
Sri Lankan supporters turned out in numbers to cheer for Yevan at Hampton Down yesterday
The 2025 season proved highly successful for Yevan, who recorded six race wins, 14 podium finishes, three pole positions and two fastest laps from 24 starts in the EuroFormula Open Championship. Back home, he was named LMD Sri Lankan of the Year, becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the award. As he is currently competing in the Oceania Regional event, his mother Dr Roshika Ranasinghe will travel from New Zealand to accept the award on his behalf at a ceremony to be held in Colombo this evening.
After a well-deserved break following a hectic racing season, Yevan now looks ahead to his first FIA Formula 3 season, where he will compete in 10 of the 24 Formula 1 race weekends. He will race for AIX Racing, a team based in the United Arab Emirates, alongside Brazil’s Fernando Barrichello and American Brad Benavides.
“I remember watching Formula 3 as a kid and dreaming of being there one day. I always believed I could reach that level, and now it’s happening. After just one year in Formula 4, I’m in Formula 3 for the 2026 season. Racing on Formula 1 weekends is an absolute dream,” Yevan said, looking ahead with excitement.
Yevan will make his Formula 3 debut at the Australian Grand Prix from March 6 to 8, before moving on to Bahrain from April 10 to 12. He will then become the first Sri Lankan to compete at the Monaco Grand Prix from June 5 to 7, followed by races later in the month at Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain and Spielberg in Austria.
In July, Yevan will be in action at Silverstone in Great Britain, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Budapest, Hungary, before concluding his season with two races in September. From September 4 to 6, he will race at Monza in Italy, a circuit he knows well, before the Formula 3 season finale in Madrid, Spain, from September 11 to 13, while the Formula 1 and Formula 2 seasons will continue until the end of 2026.
For now, however, Yevan’s full focus remains firmly on the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, which began this weekend. The high-octane series, featuring a stronger level of competition than EuroFormula and a field of next-generation stars on the rise, will serve multiple purposes on his journey towards the pinnacle of FIA global motorsport. While winning remains an integral part of his ambitions, Yevan believes the New Zealand experience will provide all the essentials as he aims to make Sri Lanka proud in the upcoming FIA season.
“It’s a series designed to prepare drivers for Formula 3—working on qualifying, racing and overall development. Learning as much as possible means trying to be better than the day before. I will focus on improving myself, working better with the team and achieving the maximum possible. Whether that’s the championship or not is secondary, as long as we deliver everything within our control,” he said, marking the start of his 2026 season.
