FRECA | 2025 Round 1 | Misano | Giltaire takes early Championship lead but Trident the top team - Motorsport

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The 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) officially kicked off its season at the Misano World Circuit, marking the first round of the ten-event calendar. As the championship entered its fifth edition, it welcomed a fiercely competitive field of 26 drivers — a blend of experienced contenders and ambitious rookies eager to leave their mark. Under clear skies and in perfect track conditions, the stage was set for a weekend of pure racing focus, where pace, setup, and strategy would prove decisive. From the very first session, it was evident that the weekend would be packed with intense battles and dramatic twists, underlining the exceptional depth of talent across the grid.

Collective Test 1: Giltaire tops disrupted session

Friday morning’s 50-minute Collective Test gave drivers their first real chance to familiarise themselves with Misano in the 2025 machinery. Right from the outset, Evan Giltaire (ART Grand Prix) signalled his intent, setting the fastest lap of 1:29.655 through precise car control and unshakable consistency. Hot on his heels, Pedro Clerot (Van Amersfoort Racing) trailed by just 0.157 seconds, showing that the fight at the front would be razor-close. Completing the top three, Kanato Le (ART Grand Prix) delivered a steady and composed run. Behind them, Matteo De Palo (Trident) and rookie Freddie Slater (Prema Racing) rounded out the top five — early proof that both seasoned names and fresh talent would be factors all weekend.

However, the session was far from straightforward. Three separate red flags — caused by Arthur Aegerter (G4 Racing) twice and Enzo Deligny (R-ace GP) once — forced teams to adapt their plans. Despite these stoppages, most outfits made full use of their running time, collecting vital data on tyre degradation, braking markers, and car balance. As the first competitive laps of the year, this session already hinted at the pace and rivalries to come.

Collective Test 2 – Bedrin fastest on Friday afternoon

When the action resumed in the afternoon, the intensity only grew. This time, Nikita Bedrin (Saintéloc Racing) stole the spotlight, clocking a 1:29.678 to narrowly edge out Rashid Al Dhaheri (Prema Racing) and the ever-consistent Matteo De Palo. Freddie Slater and Evan Giltaire rounded out the top five, underlining that the front-runners from the morning remained firmly in contention. Importantly, Giltaire’s earlier benchmark went unbeaten, reinforcing his early-season form and positioning him as a clear threat heading into qualifying.

The second session also allowed drivers to explore overtaking opportunities, experiment with racing lines, and refine throttle and braking points. As a result, the groundwork for Saturday’s crucial qualifying sessions was firmly laid.

Qualifying 1: Slater out-paces De Palo for pole

Saturday morning brought the first true showdown of the weekend. Split into two groups, Qualifying 1 delivered a fierce fight for pole. In Group B, rookie sensation Freddie Slater produced a blistering 1:28.373, securing pole position overall. In Group A, Matteo De Palo was fastest, earning a place alongside Slater on the front row.

Just behind, Pedro Clerot and Kanato Le put themselves in strong starting positions, while Evan Giltaire took second in Group A to line up fourth on the grid. Meanwhile, Rashid Al Dhaheri and Jin Nakamura kept the pressure on in Group B, earning promising spots in the top ten. The margins were tight — mere tenths separated multiple drivers — creating high expectations for a dramatic Race 1.

Race 1: De Palo secures landmark victory as Slater-Nakamura clash

As the lights went out, Matteo De Palo wasted no time seizing the lead and holding firm. His pace and composure delivered a landmark first victory for Trident in FRECA. However, drama struck almost immediately when pole-sitter Freddie Slater and Jin Nakamura made contact at Turn 2, eliminating both and triggering a safety car. The stewards later handed Nakamura a four-place grid penalty for the next race.

In the reshuffled order, Evan Giltaire climbed to second and resisted intense pressure from Rashid Al Dhaheri, who completed the podium. Pedro Clerot’s measured approach netted him fourth, while Taito Kato and Jack Beeton impressed with strong points finishes. Nikita Bedrin narrowly beat Hiyu Yamakoshi in a battle for seventh, and rookie Dion Gowda claimed top honours among the newcomers. Notably, Tim Gerhards did not start due to a technical failure, illustrating how unpredictable FRECA can be.

Qualifying 2: Giltaire eclipses Slater to claim pole

Sunday morning’s Qualifying 2 again produced a thrilling contest. This time, Evan Giltaire delivered when it mattered most, taking his first pole of the season with a rapid 1:28.206 — narrowly ahead of a determined Freddie Slater. Enzo Deligny secured third, while Race 1 winner De Palo slotted into fourth. The final minutes were especially tense, with constant position changes as drivers pushed their tyres to the limit. Giltaire’s pole not only underlined his consistency but also gave him the perfect launchpad for Race 2.

Race 2: Giltaire coverts pole to victory

In the afternoon, Giltaire made no mistakes, leading from start to finish to claim his first win of the year and take the championship lead. Freddie Slater bounced back strongly to finish second, while De Palo’s third place kept him firmly in the title hunt.

The race, however, was anything but straightforward. Three safety car periods disrupted the flow — first for Giovanni Maschio’s off at Turn 16, then for Dion Gowda’s spin at Turn 10 which also involved Rashid Al Dhaheri and Akshay Bohra, and finally for contact between Valerio Rinicella and Tim Gerhards. Nikita Bedrin produced one of the drives of the race, charging to fifth with decisive overtakes on both Al Dhaheri and Clerot. Behind them, Beeton, Clerot, Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi, Yamakoshi, and Nakamura completed the top ten, with rookie Edouard Borgna earning deserved praise for a clean and controlled run.

A strong start to the 2025 season

The Misano opener highlighted the depth of talent and competitiveness within the 2025 FRECA grid. Matteo De Palo and Evan Giltaire emerged as early championship protagonists, while Freddie Slater demonstrated pace and resilience to remain in contention despite setbacks. Tight battles, strategic overtakes, and multiple incidents shaped both races, delivering an action-packed weekend that set the stage for a thrilling season. Drivers and teams alike will look to build on these performances as the championship continues, with Misano providing an exciting start to what promises to be a closely fought title fight.