Rashid Al Dhaheri secured pole position in Qualifying 2 for the final Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) race of the 2026 weekend at the Hungaroring, becoming the seventh different pole-sitter of the season.
The R-ace GP driver topped Group A with a 1:37.639, while MP Motorsport’s Alexander Abkhazava led Group B with a 1:37.912 to secure his best Qualifying result of the season. As a result, the pair will share the front row for Race 2.
Race 1 winner Yuki Sano will start third, with Emanuele Olivieri completing an all-R-ace GP second row. However, after Qualifying, the focus turned to Al Dhaheri’s response to Saturday disappointment and Abkhazava’s confidence after a breakthrough session.
Al Dhaheri focuses on learning from Saturday
Al Dhaheri entered Sunday morning after a strong Race 1 podium, but he still felt that Saturday’s Qualifying had left more on the table. Therefore, he placed clear importance on turning those lessons into a stronger Sunday performance.
“Honestly, I was a little disappointed yesterday because I had high expectations for myself. What mattered most, though, was learning from those mistakes and coming back stronger today. In the end, we did a really good job, especially as a team. They made this possible by giving me the opportunity to put together strong laps in both Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2, and I’m very grateful for that. But the job isn’t done yet. We still have one race to go and important work ahead of us”.
His comments underline how quickly momentum can shift across a FREC weekend. Al Dhaheri had already returned to the top of the championship standings after finishing second in Race 1, but he wanted more from Qualifying 2.
Crucially, he delivered when it mattered. His 1:37.639 put him 0.248s clear in Group A and gave him track position for the final race, a major advantage at a circuit where overtaking often proves difficult.
R-ace GP strength gives Al Dhaheri a platform
Al Dhaheri also highlighted R-ace GP’s role in the result. The team locked out three of the top four starting positions, with Sano third and Olivieri fourth, giving the French outfit a strong platform for Race 2.
For Al Dhaheri, though, pole only marks the next step. His reference to “important work ahead” shows that he has already turned attention to the race. With Sano and Olivieri directly behind him, R-ace GP holds several strategic cards, but Al Dhaheri still needs a clean start and a controlled opening lap to convert pole into victory.
Abkhazava encouraged by MP Motorsport pace in 2026 FREC Qualifying 2 at the Hungaroring
Abkhazava also left Qualifying 2 with confidence after topping Group B. The MP Motorsport driver moved ahead late in the session, lost the top spot briefly to Olivieri, and then responded with a 1:37.912 as the chequered flag approached.
“I think we had a pretty good qualifying session. The pace is there and we have the opportunity to fight at the front, so we’ll see what we can do with it in the race. I really enjoy driving here, especially Sector 2, which is just incredible with its high-speed corners. It’s a very enjoyable track and one that really rewards confidence and commitment.”
The result gives Abkhazava his strongest starting position of the season and places him directly alongside Al Dhaheri. Moreover, his comments suggest that MP Motorsport has found a window that allows him to attack rather than defend.
Abkhazava targets race opportunity from the front row
Abkhazava’s praise for Sector 2 also explains why the Hungaroring suits confident drivers. The flowing middle sector rewards precision, commitment and trust in the car, and he used that part of the lap to help secure Group B honours.
Now, he has a chance to turn that Qualifying pace into a major race result. Starting on the front row gives him the opportunity to challenge Al Dhaheri immediately, especially if he launches well and stays close through the opening corners.
While Al Dhaheri wants to complete the job from pole, Abkhazava sees the race as a chance to confirm MP Motorsport’s step forward. Therefore, the front row brings together two drivers with different motivations but the same target: converting Sunday morning pace into a defining Hungaroring result.
