The fifth round of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine concluded at Paul Ricard with a commanding performance from Freddie Slater (Prema Racing), who completed a perfect weekend by claiming his second win in as many days, adding to a double pole position achieved in qualifying. Thanks to his fourth win of the season, the British driver extends his lead in the overall standings to 168 points.
It was a memorable day also for his teammate Rashid Al Dhaheri (Prema Racing), who crossed the line in second place, completing a 1-2 finish for the Italian team and further reinforcing Prema’s lead in the Teams’ standings.
Akshay Bohra impressed once again with a strong drive from fifth on the grid to the third step of the podium. The R-ace GP’s driver made decisive moves in the early stages, overtaking both Matteo De Palo (Trident) and Pedro Clerot (Van Amersfoort Racing). The Brazilian finished fourth at the chequered flag but was involved in a controversial contact with Enzo Deligny (R-ace GP), who was forced to drop down the order after the clash. Another incident involving Doriane Pin (Prema Racing) and Giovanni Maschio (RPM) brought out the red flag, although both drivers escaped without injury.
After the restart, De Palo, who had fallen to sixth before the neutralization, engaged in a fierce battle with Evan Giltaire(ART Grand Prix) for fifth place, eventually getting the better of the Frenchman. However, only after the race, both drivers were handed a one-place penalty for overtaking each other beyond track limits in two separate moments, Giltaire on the opening lap and De Palo in the final stages. As a result, fifth place went to Jin Nakamura (R-ace GP), with De Palo classified sixth and Giltaire seventh.
A solid race for Nikita Bedrin (Saintéloc Racing) saw him gain three positions to finish eighth, followed by Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi (Trident) and Deligny, who managed to climb back into the top ten with a determined drive.
The final classification of Race 2 at Paul Ricard remains provisional, pending the outcome of the appeal submitted by R-ace GP regarding the Stewards’ decision related to the incident between Deligny and Clerot. Furthermore, additional technical checks on Akshay Bohra’s car are scheduled to take place at Alpine Racing’s facility.
The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine will return in two weeks’ time for the sixth round of the season at the iconic Formula 1 venue of Imola, taking place on August 2–3.
Freddie Slater (Prema Racing)
“It’s been a really strong weekend after a few difficult rounds. We came here knowing we had a good package, and the team gave me an amazing car. My job was just to execute, especially in qualifying, which is key in this championship. Two poles and two wins is a great reward for our hard work. Now full focus on Imola: a cool, fast circuit with gravel traps, and very hot at this time of year. We’ll prepare properly and try to keep the momentum going.”
Rashid Al Dhaheri (Prema Racing)
“It’s been a weekend of ups and downs. Yesterday we couldn’t race, so today was all about bouncing back, and I’m happy we made the most of the opportunity. The race was intense and overtaking isn’t easy, so I tried to stay consistent. Qualifying is crucial here. Now we head to Imola, Prema’s home race, and I’ll be working hard with the team to keep improving.”
Akshay Bohra (R-ace GP)
“It was a challenging race. A strong start and good pace in the early laps, but tyre degradation and dirty air made it tough to manage. I went for a move around the outside into Turn 1 early on, which paid off. Overall, I’m happy to have maximised the opportunity. Looking ahead, Imola should be fun, the food’s great, and I really enjoy the track.”
Dion Gowda (Van Amersfoort Racing) - Best Rookie
“It was a hot and chaotic race, but I managed to stay out of trouble and keep it clean. It’s been a tough weekend overall, so I’m happy to come away with another rookie win. Now onto Imola, which is actually my favourite track. I’ll be training hard and getting ready on the sim to make sure I’m fully prepared.”
Go to the results page