Ferrari Driver Academy talent Tuukka Taponen became the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Champion (FRMEC) in the final round at Dubai Autodrome. Victory in Saturday’s opening race of the weekend for R-ace GP’s 17-year-old Finnish star was enough to put him beyond reach of his only remaining title rival, Taylor Barnard, and for good measure, Taponen put on a dominant display in Sunday’s season finale to further underline his superiority with another win.

Three different drivers stood atop the podium during a thrilling Formula Regional Middle East Championship Certified by FIA (FRMEC) Round 3 at Dubai Autodrome, but it was a fourth who emerged from the action with an expanded points lead. While Taylor Barnard, Nikhil Bohra, and Rafael Câmara tasted glory on the weekend, in the longer game it is Tuukka Taponen who is looking ever more difficult to beat to the ultimate prize, with two events – comprising a total of six races – remaining.

The Formula Regional Middle East Championship certified by FIA (FRMEC) was the domain of the sensational Tuukka Taponen over the course of the second round on the full 5.281km Formula 1 layout of the Yas Marina Circuit. The 17-year-old Finn, who is backed by the Ferrari Driver Academy, topped both qualifying sessions and then drove his R-ace GP car to his first two victories in the category. 

Vietnamese-licensed racer Owen Tangavelou has joined MP Motorsport for the team’s second season in Eurocup-3. The talented 18-year-old who will embrace his Asian roots as he continues to climb the single-seater ladder is the third driver to be announced for a seat with the Dutch team in the fledgling series aiming to expand further into Europe in 2024.

Young Brazilian star Emerson Fittipaldi Jr is the latest to sign up with MP Motorsport for a twin-pronged assault on the Eurocup-3 series and the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC), with his first FRMEC races coming up this weekend.