2026 | FREC | Spielberg | Collective Test | Ninovic tops the timesheets as close margins define opening session

Alex Ninovic made an immediate statement as he topped Friday morning’s 50-minute collective test in the 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC). The Rodin Motorsport driver delivered a decisive lap of 1:25.590, which he set with just under seven minutes remaining. As a result, he edged ahead in a fiercely competitive session and established himself as the early benchmark.

Late improvements shake up the order with tight competition throughout the field

Meanwhile, Sebastian Wheldon surged into second place with a late improvement. The MP Motorsport driver clocked a 1:25.674, finishing just 0.084 seconds behind Ninovic. Shortly before that, his team-mate Alexander Abkhazava had briefly led the session, and he ultimately secured third, remaining within two tenths of the fastest time.

Notably, the field showed remarkable competitiveness from the outset. The top 23 drivers finished within a single second, underlining the intensity of the championship. Reno Francot, who had led for a significant portion of the session with CL Motorsport, settled for fourth. Soon after, Kean Nakamura-Berta of PREMA Racing completed the top five with a consistent performance.

Further down the order, reigning French F4 champion Alexandre Munoz impressed as the fastest rookie. The 16-year-old ART Grand Prix driver claimed sixth overall, while also leading the rookie standings. He narrowly beat Emanuele Olivieri of R-ace GP by just over a tenth. In addition, Prema Racing’s Tomass Stolcermanis secured third among the rookies, adding depth to the emerging young talent.

Strong start sets the tone

Overall, the session delivered a clear message: the season promises tight battles and unpredictable outcomes. With minimal gaps separating much of the grid, every lap will matter as teams refine their pace. Consequently, Ninovic’s early advantage offers momentum, yet the chasing pack remains well within striking distance.

2026 FREC: Spielberg: Free Practice Results

1. #2 Alex Ninovic – Rodin Motorsport – 1:25.590 – +0.000
2. #98 Sebastian Wheldon – MP Motorsport – 1:25.674 – +0.084
3. #15 Alexander Abkhazava – MP Motorsport – 1:25.871 – +0.281
4. #69 Reno Francot – CL Motorsport – 1:25.916 – +0.326
5. #51 Kean Nakamura-Berta – PREMA Racing – 1:25.932 – +0.342
6. #95 Alexandre Muñoz – ART Grand Prix – 1:25.938 – +0.348
7. #73 Emanuele Olivieri – R-ace GP – 1:26.066 – +0.476
8. #4 Reza Seewooruthun – Rodin Motorsport – 1:26.122 – +0.532
9. #28 Zhenrui Chi – MP Motorsport – 1:26.136 – +0.546
10. #71 Rashid Al Dhaheri – R-ace GP – 1:26.178 – +0.588
11. #55 Dion Gowda – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:26.193 – +0.603
12. #6 Enea Frey – CL Motorsport – 1:26.210 – +0.620
13. #88 Salim Hanna – PREMA Racing – 1:26.222 – +0.632
14. #3 Saqer Al Maosherji – G4 Racing – 1:26.247 – +0.657
15. #19 Kabir Anurag – ART Grand Prix – 1:26.316 – +0.726
16. #12 Yuki Sano – R-ace GP – 1:26.322 – +0.732
17. #33 Maximilian Popov – Trident Motorsport – 1:26.351 – +0.761
18. #7 Andrea Dupé – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:26.384 – +0.794
19. #8 Jan Przyrowski – RPM – 1:26.408 – +0.818
20. #27 Matteo Giaccardi – ART Grand Prix – 1:26.423 – +0.833
21. #5 Miguel Costa – RPM – 1:26.424 – +0.834
22. #60 Tomass Štolcermanis – PREMA Racing – 1:26.488 – +0.898
23. #24 Jules Roussel – CL Motorsport – 1:26.551 – +0.961
24. #47 Andrija Kostić – Trident Motorsport – 1:26.651 – +1.061
25. #11 Francisco Macedo – Van Amersfoort Racing – 1:26.655 – +1.065
26. #78 Gabriel Gomez – Rodin Motorsport – 1:26.678 – +1.088
27. #67 Marcus Sæter – G4 Racing – 1:26.743 – +1.153
28. #87 Kai Daryanani – Trident Motorsport – 1:26.753 – +1.163
29. #23 Rahim Alibhai – G4 Racing – 1:26.828 – +1.238
30. #99 Giovanni Maschio – RPM – 1:27.947 – +2.357