Sebastian Wheldon completed a standout weekend at Zandvoort with victory in Race 2 of the 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC), giving MP Motorsport another home win after a chaotic race featuring a red flag, multiple Safety Cars and a final-lap shootout.
After winning Race 1 from pole, Wheldon once again showed strong pace at the front. He battled Kean Nakamura-Berta for the lead before taking control of the race and holding off the PREMA Racing driver after a late Safety Car brought the field back together.
Nakamura-Berta finished second after a strong return to the podium, while Reno Francot completed the top three for CL Motorsport after a determined defensive drive in front of the Dutch crowd. Emanuele Olivieri finished sixth overall and claimed another rookie victory for R-ace GP.
Wheldon praises MP Motorsport progress after 2026 FREC Race 2 win at Zandvoort
Wheldon’s second win of the weekend came after another strong Qualifying performance and a composed drive under pressure. Although Nakamura-Berta started from pole, the MP Motorsport driver stayed close during the opening phase and later found a way through before defending the lead on the final lap.
“It was a pretty good race. We knew we had to replicate yesterday’s Qualifying performance, and we managed to secure pole position in our group. I got a good start and had a nice battle with Nakamura for the lead. Compared to the Red Bull Ring, the team has made a lot of progress with the car, which is really encouraging. We’re heading to Spa full of confidence and looking forward to the next round.”
The result underlined Wheldon’s strong form across the Zandvoort weekend. After converting pole into victory in Race 1, he backed it up with another controlled performance in Race 2, this time having to fight through interruptions and late pressure.
His comments also highlighted MP Motorsport’s progress since the Red Bull Ring. With two wins at the team’s home round, Wheldon leaves Zandvoort with clear momentum and a stronger platform heading into Spa.
Nakamura-Berta encouraged after return to podium
Nakamura-Berta had started Race 2 from pole and controlled the early stages after keeping Wheldon behind at the start. However, the PREMA Racing driver later came under sustained pressure and lost the lead before trying to respond after the late Safety Car.
He came close to challenging Wheldon into Turn 2 on the final lap, but ultimately had to settle for second place. Even so, after a more difficult run of races, Nakamura-Berta was pleased to return to the podium and score important championship points.
“I had a good battle with Seb. The last couple of races haven’t been the best for us, so it’s good to score some points for the championship and, more importantly, to come away with a solid result again. We’ve shown that our Qualifying pace and our overall race pace are very strong. I’m confident that will continue because the team is doing an excellent job. We just need to keep moving forward. The championship is still very long.”
His reaction reflected both relief and confidence. Although victory slipped away, Nakamura-Berta pointed to PREMA’s Qualifying and race pace as key positives. With the championship still at an early stage, second place at Zandvoort gives him a useful reset before the next round.
Francot celebrates home podium after defensive drive
Francot completed the podium after a race-long fight to keep Rashid Al Dhaheri behind. The CL Motorsport driver did not believe he had the outright pace to challenge the top two, but he managed the pressure well and held third through the final-lap restart.
His podium carried added significance at Zandvoort, where he raced in front of home support. Although he had already won earlier in the season, Francot stressed the importance of consistency as the championship moves on to Spa.
“We didn’t really have the pace this race, so we’ll have to look into why that was. But in the end, I think I drove a really good race, especially defending from P4 [Al Dhaheri], who was putting me under pressure the whole time.
“Racing at home and seeing all the Dutch supporters really means a lot to me. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to race here and finish on the podium. Obviously, I did win a race earlier this season, but it’s really important to stay consistent, and that’s exactly what I’ll be aiming for when we head to Spa.”
Francot’s comments showed a balanced view of the result. While CL Motorsport still needs to understand why the pace was not as strong as expected, the Dutch driver maximised the race and delivered under pressure.
Holding off Al Dhaheri also made the podium more meaningful. In a race repeatedly disrupted by incidents and Safety Cars, Francot kept his position when it mattered and added another important result to his season.
Olivieri takes Rookie win despite tougher 2026 FREC Race 2 at Zandvoort
Olivieri continued his strong Zandvoort weekend by finishing sixth overall and taking rookie honours once again. However, after finishing on the overall podium in Race 1, the R-ace GP driver admitted Race 2 had been more difficult.
A poor start left him with more work to do, while the late Safety Car limited his chance to use saved Race Mode in the closing laps. Still, Olivieri was satisfied to score solid points and maintain momentum.
“Today’s race was a bit tougher than yesterday. The start wasn’t ideal and I lost a position straight away, so from that point on it was quite difficult. Our pace wasn’t as strong as it had been yesterday, which made overtaking really challenging. I was saving some Race Mode for the final two laps, hoping to make a move towards the end of the race. Unfortunately, the Safety Car didn’t really help my chances.
“Still, we scored good points for the team and that’s what matters. We have strong momentum at the moment and we’re confident we can fight for victories again in the next races.”
Although Race 2 did not deliver another overall podium, Olivieri still showed consistency. His rookie win added to an impressive weekend and reinforced his position as one of the standout newcomers in the field.
His focus on momentum also matched the wider picture for R-ace GP. With Al Dhaheri fighting for the overall podium and Olivieri continuing to score strongly, the team leaves Zandvoort with encouraging signs before Spa.
2026 FREC Zandvoort Race 2 gives Wheldon and MP Motorsport major momentum
Race 2 at Zandvoort proved to be another demanding test for the FREC field. The race was interrupted early after an incident involving Giovanni Maschio, Kai Daryanani and Andrija Kostić, which brought out a red flag. A late Safety Car then set up a one-lap fight to the finish, where Wheldon held off Nakamura-Berta to secure victory.
For Wheldon, the weekend marked a major breakthrough. Two victories at MP Motorsport’s home round confirmed both his qualifying speed and his ability to manage pressure in race conditions.
Nakamura-Berta also left with confidence after returning to the podium, while Francot’s home podium gave him another valuable result in his push for consistency. Olivieri, meanwhile, continued to build momentum in the rookie battle.
With Spa next on the calendar, the Zandvoort podium finishers all leave with clear positives. Wheldon has winning momentum, Nakamura-Berta has proof of PREMA’s pace, Francot has another podium, and Olivieri has further evidence that he can keep fighting at the front.
