2026 | FREC | Hungaroring | Collective Tests | Al-Dhaheri completes opening-day sweep

Rashid Al Dhaheri gave R-ace GP the early advantage as the fifth round of the 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) began at the Hungaroring on Thursday.

The Emirati driver led both Collective Test sessions and set the day’s overall benchmark with a 1:38.335 during the morning. His effort placed him 0.085s clear of Francisco Macedo and teammate Emanuele Olivieri, who recorded identical lap times.

Al Dhaheri then completed his clean sweep during the afternoon with a 1:38.535. Kean Nakamura-Berta and championship leader Sebastian Wheldon closed within 0.087s, but neither displaced the R-ace GP driver from the top.

2026 FREC Round 5: Hungaroring: Collective Test 1: Al Dhaheri sets the early benchmark

To begin with, Al Dhaheri led the opening Collective Test as R-ace GP started the Hungaroring weekend at the top of the timesheets. He recorded a 1:38.335 on lap 26 of 30, and no rival surpassed the effort before the session ended.

Van Amersfoort Racing’s Francisco Macedo followed in second with a 1:38.420. R-ace GP rookie Emanuele Olivieri set exactly the same time, although Macedo took second in the classification.

Olivieri still led the rookie runners and gave R-ace GP two cars inside the top three. Meanwhile, ART Grand Prix’s Matteo Giaccardi finished fourth, 0.161s away from Al Dhaheri.

Rodin Motorsport’s Reza Seewooruthun completed the top five, only 0.035s behind Giaccardi. Saqer Al Maosherji placed sixth for G4 Racing, while Yuki Sano ensured all three R-ace GP cars finished inside the leading seven.

Championship contender Kean Nakamura-Berta took eighth for PREMA Racing, ahead of Rodin Motorsport’s Alex Ninovic. Championship leader Sebastian Wheldon completed the top 10 for MP Motorsport.

The opening session underlined the competitiveness of the 30-car field. Only 0.325s covered the top 10, while the leading 23 drivers finished within 0.799s of Al Dhaheri’s benchmark.

Collective Test 1 results

1. #71 Rashid Al Dhaheri (R-ace GP): 1:38.335
2. #11 Francisco Macedo (Van Amersfoort Racing): +0.085
3. #73 Emanuele Olivieri (R-ace GP): +0.085
4. #27 Matteo Giaccardi (ART Grand Prix): +0.161
5. #4 Reza Seewooruthun (Rodin Motorsport): +0.196
6. #3 Saqer Al Maosherji (G4 Racing): +0.206
7. #12 Yuki Sano (R-ace GP): +0.260
8. #51 Kean Nakamura-Berta (PREMA Racing): +0.283
9. #2 Alex Ninovic (Rodin Motorsport): +0.320
10. #98 Sebastian Wheldon (MP Motorsport): +0.325
11. #8 Jan Przyrowski (RPM): +0.340
12. #95 Alexandre Munoz (ART Grand Prix): +0.380
13. #78 Gabriel Gomez (Rodin Motorsport): +0.383
14. #69 Reno Francot (CL Motorsport): +0.411
15. #7 Andrea Dupé (Van Amersfoort Racing): +0.416
16. #24 Jules Roussel (CL Motorsport): +0.469
17. #88 Salim Hanna (PREMA Racing): +0.485
18. #33 Maksimilian Popov (Trident Motorsport): +0.509
19. #55 Dion Gowda (Van Amersfoort Racing): +0.526
20. #15 Alexander Abkhazava (MP Motorsport): +0.530
21. #67 Marcus Sæter (G4 Racing): +0.538
22. #23 Rahim Alibhai (G4 Racing): +0.740
23. #19 Kabir Anurag (ART Grand Prix): +0.799
24. #60 Tomass Štolcermanis (PREMA Racing): +1.042
25. #99 Giovanni Maschio (RPM): +1.080
26. #28 Zhenrui Chi (MP Motorsport): +1.259
27. #5 Miguel Costa (RPM): +1.265
28. #14 Noah Lisle (CL Motorsport): +1.396
29. #87 Kai Daryanani (Trident Motorsport): +1.504
30. #47 Andrija Kostić (Trident Motorsport): +1.622

2026 FREC Round 5: Hungaroring: Collective Test 2: Al Dhaheri completes clean sweep

In the afternoon, Al Dhaheri returned to the top despite rising air and track temperatures. His 1:38.535 came on lap 27 of 28 and proved exactly two tenths slower than his morning benchmark. However, the R-ace GP driver faced a closer challenge from the championship’s leading two competitors. Nakamura-Berta had occupied first place late in the session before Al Dhaheri reclaimed the position.

The PREMA Racing driver ultimately finished 0.072s behind, while Wheldon took third for MP Motorsport. Only 0.015s separated the two championship contenders.

Olivieri continued his productive day by finishing fourth and once again leading the rookie classification. His 1:38.735 placed him 0.200s behind his R-ace GP teammate.

CL Motorsport’s Reno Francot climbed from 14th in the morning to fifth during Collective Test 2. He finished only 0.033s behind Olivieri and led MP Motorsport’s Zhenrui Chi.

Chi made one of the session’s largest gains after finishing 26th in the opening test. Al Maosherji followed in seventh, while Macedo dropped from second in the morning to eighth.

Sano placed ninth in the third R-ace GP entry. Rookie Tomass Štolcermanis completed the top 10 for PREMA Racing, only 0.001s ahead of RPM’s Miguel Costa.

As in the morning, the field remained closely matched. The leading 23 drivers finished within 0.754s, while only 0.410s separated Al Dhaheri from Costa in 11th.

Collective Test 2 results

1. #71 Rashid Al Dhaheri (R-ace GP): 1:38.535
2. #51 Kean Nakamura-Berta (PREMA Racing): +0.072
3. #98 Sebastian Wheldon (MP Motorsport): +0.087
4. #73 Emanuele Olivieri (R-ace GP): +0.200
5. #69 Reno Francot (CL Motorsport): +0.233
6. #28 Zhenrui Chi (MP Motorsport): +0.253
7. #3 Saqer Al Maosherji (G4 Racing): +0.264
8. #11 Francisco Macedo (Van Amersfoort Racing): +0.343
9. #12 Yuki Sano (R-ace GP): +0.394
10. #60 Tomass Štolcermanis (PREMA Racing): +0.409
11. #5 Miguel Costa (RPM): +0.410
12. #15 Alexander Abkhazava (MP Motorsport): +0.442
13. #88 Salim Hanna (PREMA Racing): +0.452
14. #27 Mattéo Giaccardi (ART Grand Prix): +0.460
15. #95 Alexandre Munoz (ART Grand Prix): +0.466
16. #55 Dion Gowda (Van Amersfoort Racing): +0.572
17. #24 Jules Roussel (CL Motorsport): +0.590
18. #8 Jan Przyrowski (RPM): +0.600
19. #2 Alex Ninovic (Rodin Motorsport): +0.623
20. #67 Marcus Sæter (G4 Racing): +0.640
21. #4 Reza Seewooruthun (Rodin Motorsport): +0.645
22. #19 Kabir Anurag (ART Grand Prix): +0.673
23. #14 Noah Lisle (CL Motorsport): +0.754
24. #7 Andrea Dupé (Van Amersfoort Racing): +0.802
25. #78 Gabriel Gomez (Rodin Motorsport): +0.816
26. #47 Andrija Kostić (Trident Motorsport): +1.007
27. #23 Rahim Alibhai (G4 Racing): +1.098
28. #87 Kai Daryanani (Trident Motorsport): +1.117
29. #99 Giovanni Maschio (RPM): +1.195
30. #33 Maksimilian Popov (Trident Motorsport): +2.394

Al Dhaheri leads the field into Friday

Following both Collective Test sessions, Al Dhaheri ended Thursday fastest overall, with Macedo and Olivieri sharing the second-fastest time. The result gave R-ace GP the headline pace and considerable depth, as all three of its drivers finished inside the morning top seven.

Olivieri also produced a particularly consistent start by leading the rookie classification in both sessions. Meanwhile, Nakamura-Berta and Wheldon moved closer during the afternoon and finished within one tenth of Al Dhaheri.

Nevertheless, the morning times remained faster as the track temperature increased later in the day. Al Dhaheri’s 1:38.335 therefore stood as the overall Thursday benchmark.

Track action continues on Friday with two 50-minute Free Practice sessions. The 30 drivers will then split into Groups A and B for Qualifying 1 at 11:35 CEST on Saturday.

Race 1 begins at 18:20 later that day, while Qualifying 2 starts at 08:30 on Sunday. Race 2 will conclude the Hungaroring weekend at 15:55.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Al Dhaheri gave R-ace GP the strongest possible start to the fifth round by leading both Thursday sessions. However, Nakamura-Berta and Wheldon moved firmly into contention during the afternoon, while Macedo, Olivieri and Francot also demonstrated competitive pace.

Therefore, the small margins across the field suggest the Thursday order provides only an early indication of the competitive picture before Free Practice and split-group qualifying.