As the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine prepares for the upcoming round at Spa Francorchamps this weekend, interest is high following an engaging start to the season at Hockenheimring. The first round featured notable performances that have already begun to shape the early championship standings.
Rafael Camara of Prema Racing, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, emerged as a leading contender at Hockenheim. He secured victory in the first race and set the fastest lap in the first qualifying of the year, positioning himself at the top of the standings with 43 points. Camara’s consistent performance makes him a key driver to watch as the championship moves to Spa.
Evan Giltaire from ART Grand Prix also made a strong impression. Despite technical issues in the opening race, he rebounded in Race 2 to claim victory, demonstrating resilience and skill. Giltaire is currently tied for second in the championship with 25 points, sharing this position with rookie Ivan Domingues of Van Amersfoort Racing. Domingues finished fifth in Race 1 and third in Race 2, showing his competitiveness among more experienced drivers.
Brando Badoer of Van Amersfoort Racing showcased his racecraft by climbing from twelfth on the grid to finish fourth in Race 1 and achieving a strong finish in Race 2, placing him fourth with 22 points. Tuukka Taponen of R-ace GP secured a second-place finish in the first race and maintained solid performance in the second, earning him fifth place in the standings with 20 points.
James Wharton, another driver from Prema Racing, encountered challenges including a penalty in Race 1 that dropped him from second to third. However, his pace was evident, and he remains a strong contender in the championship with 15 points. Enzo Deligny, a Red Bull junior driver with R-ace GP, also delivered a solid performance, positioning himself among the top ten in the standings. The top ten of the overall standings is completed by Nikita Bedrin (MP Motorsport), who will be absent at Spa this weekend, Pedro Clerot (Van Amersfoort Racing), and Théophile Naël (Sainteloc Racing).
Spotlight on Rookies
The rookie class this season is proving to be highly competitive. Giltaire leads the rookie standings, tied with Domingues, both having scored 25 points with strong performances in both races at Hockenheim. Enzo Deligny and Pedro Clerot have also made promising starts, with Deligny showing potential in both races and Clerot demonstrating consistent pace.
Nicola Lacorte of Trident Motorsport has shown moments of brilliance and will be looking to make an impact at Spa. The mentioned drivers are all within the top five of the rookie standings, highlighting the intense competition among these young talents as they seek to establish themselves in the championship.
Weekend Schedule
The race weekend will officially kick off tomorrow, Thursday, May 23, with two pre-collective tests where the international series’ single-seaters will take to the Belgian track for a total of six hours, spanning the morning and afternoon sessions. On Friday, engines will roar for the collective tests at 9:50 AM, followed by the second session at 2:05 PM, both lasting 50 minutes. Saturday’s schedule includes the first qualifying session at 10:20 AM and Race 1 at 2:40 PM, both of which will be broadcast live. Sunday starts with the second qualifying session at 9:05 AM, followed by Race 2 at 3:45 PM, which will also be streamed live on the championship’s official YouTube channel.