2026 | FREC | Hungaroring | Qualifying 2 | Al Dhaheri claims Hungaroring pole as Abkhazava tops Group B

Rashid Al Dhaheri claimed pole position for Race 2 at the Hungaroring after setting the fastest time in Sunday morning’s FREC Qualifying 2 session, becoming the seventh different polesitter of the 2026 season.

Fresh from finishing second in Saturday’s opening race to reclaim the lead of the FIA Formula Regional European Championship standings, the R-ace GP driver topped Group A with a 1:37.639 to secure pole position for the weekend finale.

Alongside him on the front row will be MP Motorsport’s Alexander Abkhazava, who set the fastest time in Group B to record his best qualifying result of the season.

R-ace GP locked out the second row with Race 1 winner Yuki Sano qualifying third ahead of teammate Emanuele Olivieri. Van Amersfoort Racing’s Francisco Macedo and PREMA Racing’s Kean Nakamura-Berta will line up on the third row, while MP Motorsport’s Sebastian Wheldon qualified seventh ahead of CL Motorsport’s Reno Francot. Rodin Motorsport’s Alex Ninovic and G4 Racing’s Saqer Almaosherji completed the top 10.

Group B

The Group B drivers were first out on track in cooler conditions than those experienced on Saturday.

With three minutes remaining, Olivieri moved to the top of the timesheets with a 1:38.404 before Abkhazava responded two tenths quicker, aided by a strong middle sector.

Olivieri reclaimed provisional pole moments later with a 1:38.137, but as the chequered flag fell, Abkhazava produced a final flying lap of 1:37.912 to snatch top spot in the group.

Nakamura-Berta ended the 2026 FREC Hungaroring Qualifying 2 session third fastest in Group B, 0.269s behind Abkhazava.

Group B results

1. #15 Alexander Abkhazava — MP Motorsport — 1:37.912
2. #73 Emanuele Olivieri — R-ace GP — 1:38.137
3. #51 Kean Nakamura-Berta — PREMA Racing — 1:38.181
4. #2 Alex Ninovic — Rodin Motorsport — 1:38.234
5. #3 Saqer Almaosherji — G4 Racing — 1:38.255
6. #8 Jan Przyrowski — RPM — 1:38.272
7. #78 Gabriel Gomez — Rodin Motorsport — 1:38.304
8. #4 Reza Seewooruthun — Rodin Motorsport — 1:38.418
9. #60 Tomass Stolcermanis — PREMA Racing — 1:38.479
10. #5 Miguel Costa — RPM — 1:38.574
11. #88 Salim Hanna — PREMA Racing — 1:38.623
12. #99 Giovanni Maschio — RPM — 1:38.672
13. #24 Jules Roussel — CL Motorsport — 1:38.680
14. #27 Mattéo Giaccardi — ART Grand Prix — 1:38.806
15. #47 Andrija Kostic — Trident Motorsport — 1:39.011

Group A

Macedo became the first driver in Group A to dip into the 1:37s with just over three minutes remaining, briefly taking control of the session.

However, Al Dhaheri responded with a 1:37.639 to move 0.248s clear at the top of the standings and secure overall pole position.

Sano improved on his final lap to move into second in the group ahead of Macedo, ensuring two R-ace GP drivers finished inside the top three in Group A.

Group A results

1. #71 Rashid Al Dhaheri — R-ace GP — 1:37.639
2. #12 Yuki Sano — R-ace GP — 1:37.827
3. #11 Francisco Macedo — Van Amersfoort Racing — 1:37.887
4. #98 Sebastian Wheldon — MP Motorsport — 1:37.889
5. #69 Reno Francot — CL Motorsport — 1:37.920
6. #67 Marcus Saeter — G4 Racing — 1:38.115
7. #19 Kabir Anurag — ART Grand Prix — 1:38.139
8. #28 Zhenrui Chi — MP Motorsport — 1:38.286
9. #55 Dion Gowda — Van Amersfoort Racing — 1:38.300
10. #7 Andrea Dupé — Van Amersfoort Racing — 1:38.368
11. #95 Alexandre Munoz — ART Grand Prix — 1:38.452
12. #33 Maksimilian Popov — Trident Motorsport — 1:38.553
13. #23 Rahim Alibhai — G4 Racing — 1:38.571
14. #14 Noah Lisle — CL Motorsport — 1:38.825
15. #87 Kai Daryanani — Trident Motorsport — 1:39.990