Qualifying at Hockenheim delivered another thrilling chapter in the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA). In cold but dry conditions, Enzo Deligny of R-ace GP produced a commanding performance in Group A to claim overall pole position. Matteo De Palo of Trident Motorsport set the pace in Group B, earning a front-row start alongside his title rival.
Deligny extends his form
Deligny continued his fine qualifying run, adding a fourth pole of the season to his tally after earlier successes at Hungaroring, Imola, and Barcelona. His benchmark lap of 1:33.989 proved untouchable in Group A, where he saw off a strong challenge from Taito Kato of ART Grand Prix. Freddie Slater, who entered the weekend tied with De Palo at the top of the standings, ended third in the group and will start from the third row.
Reflecting on his performance, Deligny said: “It feels great to take another pole position straight after Barcelona. We’ve been quick and consistent all year, and today I really enjoyed driving here at Hockenheim. The lap came together perfectly, and the margin shows the progress we’ve made. Of course, starting from pole is the best place to be, but tomorrow’s race can be a very different story, so we’ll stay focused and keep working to convert it into a strong result.”
Behind the leading trio, Akshay Bohra delivered a solid run for R-ace GP, while Kanato Le confirmed ART Grand Prix’s strength with fifth.
De Palo keeps pressure alive
In Group B, De Palo rose to the occasion by defeating Evan Giltaire in a close fight. The Trident Motorsport driver set the fastest lap of the session, which secured him a front-row start alongside Deligny. Giltaire followed in second, while teammate Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi confirmed Trident’s depth with third.
De Palo, mindful of the title battle, remained focused on the bigger picture: “We’re happy with pole position in Group B, although our goal was the overall pole after the pace we showed in testing. Congratulations to Enzo for his lap, today it wasn’t possible to beat him. We’ll work tonight to improve and try to fight for the overall pole tomorrow. Starting from the front row puts us in a strong position, and at a track like Hockenheim, where overtaking is possible, we’re confident we can go for the win and take important points for the championship.”
Rookie sensation Dion Gowda again impressed for Van Amersfoort Racing, taking fourth in the group and finishing ahead of teammate Hiyu Yamakoshi.
Outlook for the weekend
With Deligny on pole and De Palo alongside him, Sunday’s race promises to be pivotal in the fight for the championship. Slater’s third-row start leaves him with work to do, while a tightly packed midfield ensures no shortage of action. Saturday’s second qualifying session will decide the grid for Race 1, which begins at 16:30.
