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. 

Round 3 continues with Races 2 and 3 of the Formula 4 UAE Championship and the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC) at the new 5.609km Kuwait Motor Town.
 

Today starts Round 3 with race 1 of the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC) at the new 5.609km Kuwait Motor Town. Alongside the F4 UAE Championship, the two series will debut open-wheel competition at the impressive, multi-discipline USD162 million motorsport facility with a combined grid just shy of 70 cars.

The first visit by the Formula Regional Middle East Championship Certified by FIA (FRMEC) to the new Kuwait Motor Town facility was a festival of the unpredictable and dramatic. Dino Beganovic, Taylor Barnard and Sami Meguetounif emerged as the three race winners. Yet, just as he did after the opening round at Dubai Autodrome, Andrea Kimi Antonelli came away as the series leader, despite not yet having won a race.

The inaugural round of the new Formula Regional Middle East Championship Certified by FIA (FRMEC) was certainly dramatic and unpredictable. When the dust settled at the Dubai Autodrome from three sensational races from the high-quality, international 27-driver field, a trio of young talents were celebrating victories – yet none of them are in the leading three positions in the championship.