A textbook victory was delivered by Freddie Slater this afternoon at Circuit Paul Ricard, host of the fifth of ten double-header rounds on the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine calendar. The Prema Racing driver led from lights to flag after starting from pole position, also setting the fastest lap mid-race. It was a flawless performance from the British driver, who, with his fourth win of the season, reclaimed the top spot in the overall standings by just three points over Matteo De Palo.
De Palo, driving the No. 8 car for Trident Motorsport, started alongside Slater on the front row thanks to a strong qualifying performance in Group A. The Italian executed a clean and well-managed race to secure second place and valuable points for the championship.
Applause also goes to Taito Kato (ART Grand Prix), who impressed with his strong race pace and gained three positions to finish third, matching his result from Race 2 in Belgium. Akshay Bohra (R-ace GP) also delivered a solid run to finish fourth behind the Japanese driver.
Pedro Clerot (Van Amersfoort Racing) demonstrated good pace, especially in the second half of the race, with lap times comparable to the leader. The Brazilian’s consistency allowed him to maintain fifth position ahead of teammate Hiyu Yamakoshi.
A notable on-track battle between Frenchmen Enzo Deligny (R-ace GP) and Evan Giltaire (ART Grand Prix) ended with the pair crossing the line in seventh and ninth, respectively. Capitalizing on that duel was Jin Nakamura, who brought his R-ace GP car home in eighth.
Jack Beeton (Prema Racing) completed the top 10, while a mention goes to Michael Belov (CL Motorsport), who fought hard throughout the race to remain in contention for points, eventually finishing eleventh ahead of Giovanni Maschio (RPM).
Once again, Dion Gowda (Van Amersfoort Racing) stood out among the rookies, claiming the Rookie Trophy for the seventh time this season. The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine returns to action tomorrow morning at 08:00 for the second qualifying session, which will determine the grid for Race 2 at Paul Ricard.
Freddie Slater (Prema Racing):
"Great to get back on the top step, especially after a few tough weekends. Pace was strong both in qualifying and the race. The title fight with Matteo is tight, but I’m focused on my job, trying to win, get pole again tomorrow, and push through the second half of the season."
Matteo De Palo (Trident):
"Good start and solid pace early on, but tire degradation made it tough to keep up with Freddie. Still, P2 is important for the championship. Trident is helping me grow as a driver, and I’m confident heading into tomorrow’s quali."
Taito Kato (ART Grand Prix):
"I’m really happy to be back on the podium after Budapest. We improved a lot this weekend despite limited practice. If conditions are better tomorrow, I think we can maximise the pace again."
Dion Gowda (Van Amersfoort Racing) – Best Rookie:
"Tough race with low pace, but I made up a few positions and took another Rookie Trophy. I need to improve in qualifying, but if it’s wet tomorrow, things could get interesting."
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