The second qualifying session of the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya unfolded in dramatic fashion, with shifting skies and heavy rain transforming the track into a treacherous stage for the 34-car field. Drivers faced unpredictable grip levels from the moment they left the pits, with strategy, timing, and raw car control all playing decisive roles in determining the outcome. What began as a wet-weather challenge gradually evolved into a delicate balance between risk and reward as the racing line dried, creating significant variation between the two qualifying groups.
In the end, the session produced standout performances that underlined both the depth of the grid and the resilience of those who could adapt quickly to the evolving conditions. Rising above the uncertainty was Enzo Deligny, who delivered a commanding lap to secure his third pole position of the season, while Brazilian youngster Pedro Clerot confirmed his growing reputation with a front-row start after a strong showing in the more challenging Group B conditions.
Deligny: “The perfect way to bounce back”
Deligny, driving for R-ace GP, returned to form in Group A after his disappointing retirement in Saturday’s race. The Frenchman made the most of a drying track to post a 1:53.250, topping the combined classification by a margin of six tenths.
“Even though there wasn’t much rain, the conditions made the track really slow and it felt like I had no grip, so it was tricky for everyone,” Deligny explained. “Despite that, we managed to take pole by six tenths, which shows the great work the team did with the setup.”
Deligny turned the result into more than just another pole, using it as a crucial reset after losing his front wing in Race 1 and missing valuable points. His focus now shifts to converting the front-row start into victory.
“After a difficult race yesterday where I lost my front wing and important points, this is the perfect way to bounce back. Now the goal is to finish the job in race two and try to win as many races as possible in the last part of the season. We’ve already won two this year, but with five races still to go I’m really motivated to keep fighting at the front.”
Clerot confident despite narrow miss
Alongside Deligny on the grid will be Pedro Clerot, who once again underlined his growing status as one of the standout rookies of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine. The Brazilian impressed in Group B, mastering the trickiest conditions of the morning as heavier rain swept across the circuit during the session. Despite facing reduced grip and limited visibility compared to the later runners in Group A, Clerot extracted strong performance from his Van Amersfoort Racing car to secure second overall.
The result continues what has already been a positive weekend for Clerot, who climbed onto the podium in Saturday’s opening race and has consistently featured at the sharp end of the timesheets throughout the Barcelona round. His consistency in mixed conditions highlights both his adaptability and the growing competitiveness of the Dutch squad. Still, Clerot admitted he left something on the table and narrowly missed out on the chance to claim his first FRECA pole position.
“Qualifying in the wet is always tricky, but today we showed very strong pace and I think we can be happy overall,” Clerot said. “It’s a bit frustrating to miss out on pole, especially because I felt there was still something more in my lap, but P2 is still a solid result.”
The Brazilian emphasised how rapidly the track evolved, adding: “The track was constantly drying, which made it difficult to get everything together. Now we’ll see what the weather does for the race. Thanks to the team for the great job today.”
An intense battle ahead
With both Deligny and Clerot brimming with confidence and momentum, Sunday afternoon’s 30-minute plus one lap race promises another intense battle at the front of the FRECA field. As the field lines up for Race 2, Deligny carries the advantage of pole position while Clerot prepares to challenge from the front row. Both drivers showed strong pace in qualifying under treacherous conditions, and they now shift focus to translating speed into points. With the weather still unpredictable and the championship fight tightening, Barcelona sets the stage for an intense battle when the lights go out.
