FRME | 2026 | Round 4 | Lusail

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Kean Nakamura-Berta sealed the 2026 Formula Regional Middle East (FRME) Trophy title in emphatic style by winning Race 2 at Lusail after a tense duel with Sebastian Wheldon. A safety car, a red flag and relentless pressure from behind failed to unsettle the Mumbai Falcons driver, who controlled proceedings to secure both victory and the championship, while Rashid Al Dhaheri’s challenge faded to seventh.

Early control marred by immediate stoppage in Race 1

Pole-sitter Kean Nakamura-Berta lined up alongside front-row partner Sebastian Wheldon, knowing victory would almost certainly secure the crown. Meanwhile, points leader Rashid Al Dhaheri started eighth and needed to climb to second if Nakamura-Berta won. Therefore, the Abu Dhabi driver faced an enormous task before the lights even went out.

At the start, Nakamura-Berta launched cleanly and immediately established track position over Wheldon. The leading pair ran nose-to-tail through the opening phase, with neither driver giving an inch.

Further back, Al Dhaheri made early progress by passing Jesse Carrasquedo at the end of lap one to move into seventh.

However, the race soon halted. Alexander Abkhazava and Enea Frey collided at Turn 7, eliminating both cars. Stewards deemed Frey responsible. Simultaneously, Alceu Feldmann Neto ran wide over a kerb on corner exit and crashed into the barriers. Officials first deployed the safety car and then red-flagged the race to clear the incidents.

Restart brilliance and sustained pressure

When racing resumed, Nakamura-Berta executed a superb restart. He immediately forced Wheldon to defend from Alex Powell, who attacked for second place.

Behind them, a tightly packed train formed. Kabir Anurag, Jan Przyrowski, Salim Hanna and Al Dhaheri ran line astern in a fierce scrap from fourth to seventh.

Wheldon soon shook off Powell and began to reel in the leader. Although Nakamura-Berta stretched his advantage to over a second, Wheldon responded and gradually reduced the gap. Nevertheless, he never closed sufficiently to mount a decisive move.

Ultimately, Nakamura-Berta crossed the line just 0.765 seconds clear, securing both the race win and the championship title.

Midfield battles and late drama

Powell delivered a composed drive to third, consolidating his podium position. Meanwhile, Anurag ran wide exiting Turn 6 on the final lap but recovered swiftly to retain fourth from Przyrowski.

Hanna defended resolutely in sixth as Al Dhaheri attacked repeatedly in the closing laps. The prolonged fight allowed Emanuele Olivieri to close in, yet Al Dhaheri could not find a way past the Colombian and had to settle for seventh.

Elsewhere, Olivieri executed an impressive outside pass at Turn 1 on Carrasquedo during lap eight. Although Carrasquedo initially finished ninth, officials later excluded him for failing to attend post-race weighing.

As a result, Yuki Sano inherited ninth, while Brazilian Miguel Costa claimed the final point of the season in tenth.

2026 FRME champion crowned at Lusail after exciting Race 2

With back-to-back victories, Nakamura-Berta completed a decisive weekend at Lusail. He absorbed pressure, mastered two restarts and delivered when it mattered most.

Consequently, he ended the 2026 Formula Regional Middle East Trophy season as champion, while Al Dhaheri’s long-held points advantage slipped away in the final reckoning.