Kean Nakamura-Berta made history in Spielberg by securing the first-ever pole position in the 2026 FIA FREC championship. The PREMA Racing driver topped both Qualifying groups with a decisive lap of 1:25.765. Meanwhile, Rashid Al Dhaheri ensured a front-row start after leading Group B, setting up an exciting opening race.
2026 FREC: Spielberg Qualifying 1: Group A: Nakamura-Berta sets the benchmark
Group A featured highly competitive action despite slightly slower track conditions compared to the earlier Collective Test. Nevertheless, Nakamura-Berta delivered when it mattered most. With under a minute remaining, he produced a standout lap, particularly strong in the opening sectors, to claim the fastest time in the session.
Alex Ninovic followed in second, continuing his strong form from earlier in the day. At the same time, Emanuele Olivieri impressed by securing third and emerging as the fastest rookie. Maksimilian Popov and Zhenrui Chi completed the top five, all within half a second of the leader.
Speaking after the session, Nakamura Berta said, “The team did a phenomenal job with the car. We were confident throughout the whole day. I think we didn’t fully show our potential in free practice, but we put it all together in qualifying today. So I’m really, really happy. It’s a great way to start the season. A massive thanks to the team.”
Group A Qualifying Results: Top 10
- #51 Kean Nakamura-Berta – PREMA Racing – 1:25.765
- #2 Alex Ninovic – Rodin Motorsport – +0.262
- #73 Emanuele Olivieri – R-ace GP – +0.407
- #33 Maximilian Popov – Trident Motorsport – +0.415
- #28 Zhenrui Chi – MP Motorsport – +0.451
- #55 Dion Gowda – Van Amersfoort Racing – +0.586
- #15 Alexander Abkhazava – MP Motorsport – +0.786
- #88 Salim Hanna – PREMA Racing – +0.807
- #24 Jules Roussel – CL Motorsport – +0.852
- #11 Francisco Macedo – Van Amersfoort Racing +0.870
2026 FREC: Spielberg Qualifying 1: Group A: Al Dhaheri tops Group B but falls short of pole
In Group B, Rashid Al Dhaheri set the benchmark with a lap of 1:25.951, becoming the first driver to break into the 1:25 range. Subsequently, he attempted to improve further on his final lap; however, traffic in the final sector limited his progress.
Sebastian Wheldon secured second, just 0.064 seconds behind, once again demonstrating strong pace. Meanwhile, Reno Francot and Tomass Stolcermanis remained closely matched in third and fourth. Alexandre Munoz rounded out the top five with a consistent effort for ART Grand Prix.
Reflecting after the session, Al Dhaheri said,“I’m really proud of the work we’ve been able to do. I think we had a strong chance of securing pole overall, but things didn’t quite come together. We’ve learned a lot today, and we’ll aim to carry that forward into tomorrow and the rest of the season.”
Group B Qualifying Results: Top 10
- #71 Rashid Al Dhaheri – R-ace GP – 1:25.951
- #98 Sebastian Wheldon – MP Motorsport – +0.064
- #69 Reno Francot – CL Motorsport – +0.087
- #60 Tomass Štolcermanis – PREMA Racing – +0.090
- #95 Alexandre Muñoz – ART Grand Prix – +0.230
- #4 Reza Seewooruthun – Rodin Motorsport – +0.232
- #87 Kai Daryanani – Trident Motorsport – +0.245
- #78 Gabriel Gomez – Rodin Motorsport – +0.317
- #7 Andrea Dupé – Van Amersfoort Racing – +0.355
- #27 Matteo Giaccardi – ART Grand Prix – +0.357
Tight competition across the grid ahead of Race 1
Overall, the opening Qualifying session delivered tight competition across both groups. Nakamura-Berta’s historic pole gives him the early advantage; however, Al Dhaheri and several others remain within striking distance. Therefore, with such small margins separating the field, the races ahead promise intense battles and unpredictable outcomes.
