2025 Macau GP | FIA FR World Cup | FP1 | Kato sets the pace in opening session at Guia Circuit - Motorsport

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The 2025 FIA Formula Regional (FR) World Cup kicked off in ideal conditions at the Guia Circuit in Macau, with Free Practice 1 beginning at 9:15 local time. Unlike the previous year’s event, which was marred by wet conditions and multiple stoppages, the dry weather allowed drivers to focus on fine-tuning their setups and learning the challenging street circuit. As the session progressed, the battle for the top spot intensified, with several drivers making their debut on this iconic track.

Initial lap times

The opening minutes were spent with drivers familiarising themselves with the circuit, getting heat into their tyres, and learning the braking points. With just under 35 minutes remaining, R-ace GP’s Enzo Deligny set the benchmark at 2:25.508, followed closely by teammate Jin Nakamura in third and Matteo De Palo, who had recently joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme, in fourth.

Meanwhile, 2025 Formula Regional European Champion Freddie Slater was one to watch, sitting in 9th at this stage. As the drivers began to push harder, times quickly tumbled. Slater set a new fastest time with 2:19.911, narrowly edging out Deligny. By now, several others were improving, with Charlie Wurz (P7), Rashid Al Dhaheri (P8), and home hero Charles Leong (P10) all looking competitive.

Red Flag interruption

However, the session was briefly interrupted with a Red Flag when Evans GP’s Hiyu Yamakoshi lost a wheel. Yamakoshi had been in 11th place before the incident and was on track for several minutes before the wheel detached. The stoppage led to a few moments of confusion as the car was recovered, but it also allowed the teams time to assess their performance up until that point.

When the session resumed with 19 minutes remaining, drivers faced a brief warm-up period due to the cooling of their tyres. With such limited time available to perfect their setups ahead of qualifying, every lap was crucial.

Tightening the battle for P1

After the restart, drivers quickly got back to business. Mari Boya, who had been languishing in 18th, made an impressive recovery to move into P2 with a 2:20.128. However, it was KCMG Enya Pinnacle Motorsport’s Théophile Naël who stole the spotlight, setting a new fastest time with a 2:19.438.

Naël’s reign at the top was short-lived, as Deligny, who had been consistent all session, posted a stunning 2:18.608 to claim the fastest time once more. Kato, who had shown strong form all morning, improved to P2 with a 2:18.812.

Meanwhile, Slater—who had been consistently near the front—set purple sectors in both Sector 2 and Sector 3. He finished the lap in P2 with a 2:18.102, just 0.120 seconds behind Naël.

Last-lap improvements and brief yellow flags

As the session entered its final ten minutes, the timesheet continued to shuffle. Kato surged to the top with a 2:17.804, putting him ahead of Naël, Slater, and Deligny. However, Deligny’s lap was disrupted when he ran off into the escape road in Sector 2, bringing out a yellow flag. Despite this, Slater remained in contention, improving to P2 with a 2:17.450.

With less than seven minutes remaining, Naël posted another improvement to go P1 with a 2:18.102, while Slater’s subsequent lap pushed him to P2 again. As the clock ticked down, drivers continued to improve. Slater, in particular, put in an outstanding lap with a 2:16.742, 0.922 seconds faster than Naël.

Kato claims top spot

In the final moments, Kato, showing remarkable pace, reclaimed the top spot with a blistering 2:16.412, while Slater held onto P2 with a 2:16.456. Boya, who had been up there all session, finished P3 with a 2:16.573, just ahead of Naël in P4.

Deligny improved again to P4 but received a post-session investigation for receiving outside assistance after his off-track excursion. Boya, who had been the first to take the flag, couldn’t improve in the final moments, leaving Slater to hold onto P2, ahead of Naël in P3.

In a session full of fine margins, it was Taito Kato who ended Free Practice 1 at the top of the timesheets, with a stunning lap that showcased his mastery of the Guia Circuit. The fight for pole in Qualifying is set to be fiercely contested, with multiple drivers capable of challenging for the front row.