The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine once again delivered excitement and spectacle for the large crowd that filled the grandstands and paddock at Hockenheim, the stage of the penultimate round of the 2025 season.
Spectators were treated to one of the most thrilling races of the year, with the title battle between Freddie Slater and Matteo De Palo once again providing drama and wheel-to-wheel action. This time it was the British driver who prevailed. Starting from fourth on the grid, Slater worked his way past Evan Giltaire (ART Grand Prix) and then Akshay Bohra (R-ace GP), closing in on Matteo De Palo. The Trident driver had led the early stages after starting from pole position and making a clean getaway behind the safety car, which had been deployed due to damp patches left on track from an earlier shower.
In the closing stages, Slater and De Palo engaged in a fierce duel for the lead. In a dramatic moment, Bohra seized the opportunity to overtake both and move into first place. Slater, however, regrouped and made a decisive move on the R-ace GP driver to secure his sixth win of the season. Bohra finished second, while De Palo had to settle for third under pressure in the final laps from Giltaire, who crossed the line in fourth.
Behind them, Enzo Deligny (R-ace GP) took fifth after starting from the same grid position following the penalty received in Spain, fending off two determined rivals: Pedro Clerot (Van Amersfoort Racing) in sixth and Jin Nakamura (R-ace GP) in seventh. Applause also went to American newcomer James Egozi (RPM), who scored points on his series debut with eighth place. The top ten was completed by ART Grand Prix’s Taito Kato and Kanato Le. Notably, Dion Gowda once again emerged as the fastest rookie of the race.
The international series will be back in action tomorrow at 10:20 for the weekend’s final race, broadcast live on the championship’s official YouTube channel and on TV networks covering the series, including ACI Sport TV on Sky channel 228.
Freddie Slater (Prema Racing) – P1
“Every race is important at this stage of the season, and after a difficult qualifying this morning it was crucial to bounce back. We knew we had the pace in the race, so it was about being patient, managing the situation, and waiting for the right opportunities. In the end, that approach really paid off. The key today was patience and focus. From the first laps, I understood we had a strong car, but even with a pace advantage, you can’t always make a move immediately. I had to time the overtakes carefully, and I think that shows how I’ve matured as a driver compared to a year ago. Looking ahead to tomorrow, it’s difficult to predict, especially with the weather, which can change quickly here. Whatever the conditions, we’ll be ready to fight again and try to maximize the result.”
Akshay Bohra (R-ace GP) – P2
“From a results perspective, I think we maximized what we could today, even if it wasn’t the cleanest race. I probably could have defended a bit harder at the start, but in the end we were just missing a little bit of pace. Once Freddie got past, it was mainly about focusing on consistent laps to bring the car home. Tomorrow I’ll be starting from seventh, so the approach will be straightforward: eyes forward, nothing to lose, and the aim is to keep learning and making progress. I have to thank the team, they’ve been doing a mega job all year. The support from my engineer and everyone at R-ace GP has really helped me grow as a driver, improving in different conditions and situations. There’s still more work to do, but overall, I’m pleased with how far we’ve come.”
Matteo De Palo (Trident Motorsport) – P3
“It hasn’t been my best race of the season. After five or six laps, I started to struggle a lot with the front tyres, while Freddie’s pace was clearly stronger. The key moment was when I tried to pull away early on, but then it became about defending the position as much as possible. We’ll analyse everything tonight and focus on improving, because if we make a step forward, I’m confident we can fight for the win tomorrow.”
Dion Gowda (Van Amersfoort Racing) – Best Rookie
“The race was very competitive, and even though I made a small mistake on the slippery part of the track and lost a few positions, it was still a big step forward compared to the last couple of rounds. I feel I’m improving every weekend, gaining experience and learning more each time. Starting again inside the top ten tomorrow gives me confidence, and if the weather changes, anything can happen, so we’ll be ready to take every opportunity.”