Round 6 of the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) unfolded at the iconic Imola circuit, a track steeped in history and notorious for punishing even the smallest mistakes. Known for its technical layout and limited overtaking opportunities, Imola demands precision, strategy, and composure from every driver on the grid. With the season entering its decisive phase, the stakes were higher than ever. Freddie Slater arrived as championship leader, but Matteo De Palo, buoyed by strong recent performances, had closed the gap. Behind them, Enzo Deligny, Pedro Clerot, and Akshay Bohra were engaged in an increasingly tense battle for third place, while the teams’ fight remained equally fierce with Prema Racing holding a slender advantage.
From the opening test sessions to the chequered flag in Race 2, the weekend delivered drama, strategic gambles, and a major shake-up in both championships.
Pre-Event Test 1: Bohra impresses as Imola Round opens
The opening pre-event test session began under clear skies, offering optimal grip and stable track conditions. Teams wasted no time in optimising their setups for Imola’s high-speed challenges. Akshay Bohra set the benchmark with an impressive 1:40.704 for R-ace GP, signalling the team’s strong intent. Matteo De Palo closely followed, trailing by only 0.040 seconds, while Rashid Al Dhaheri secured third. R-ace GP’s Jin Nakamura impressed in fourth, demonstrating consistent pace. Nikita Bedrin and Hiyu Yamakoshi rounded out the top six despite minor errors under braking. The competitive margins were razor-thin, foreshadowing a tightly contested weekend.
Pre-Event Test 2: Slater on top as Clerot improves
Momentum shifted dramatically in the second session as championship leader Freddie Slater made his presence felt. The Prema Racing driver delivered a commanding lap of 1:39.309, the fastest time of the day. Pedro Clerot reinforced the team’s pace with second place, while Al Dhaheri remained a model of consistency in third. Nakamura and Bohra completed the top five, with rookie Dion Gowda impressing in sixth. The reduced lap times reflected teams moving towards qualifying simulations, highlighting the growing intensity ahead of official sessions.
Collective Test 1: Deligny spearheads R-ace GP charge
The first official collective test session consolidated the competitive order. Enzo Deligny spearheaded R-ace GP’s charge, topping the times with a 1:39.044. His confident lines through Variante Alta and Acque Minerali underscored his strong return to form. Bedrin secured second, followed by Bohra in third. Al Dhaheri slotted into fourth, narrowly ahead of Nakamura in fifth. Rookie honours went to Ean Eyckmans in sixth after a late flyer. Remarkably, the top 11 drivers were separated by less than a second, underlining the series’ depth and the significance of marginal gains heading into qualifying.
Collective Test 2: De Palo tops the timesheets
The final collective test session intensified the battle at the front. Matteo De Palo responded for Trident, delivering a session-topping 1:39.623 to edge Freddie Slater by just 0.084 seconds. Deligny continued his strong showing in third, while ART Grand Prix secured fourth and fifth through Evan Giltaire and Taito Kato. Clerot and Eyckmans remained close behind, further compressing the midfield. With qualifying simulations now complete, the paddock buzzed with anticipation for a decisive fight over grid positions.
Qualifying 1: Deligny strikes back
Group B took to the track first, and Enzo Deligny immediately set the tone with a stunning 1:38.585. The Frenchman attacked Imola’s kerbs with absolute confidence, particularly through Tamburello and Villeneuve, securing pole for Race 1. Akshay Bohra chased hard for second, while Matteo De Palo settled for third after losing time at Variante Alta. Nakamura impressed in fourth, and Hiyu Yamakoshi claimed fifth.
Group A followed with Freddie Slater asserting himself once more. The Briton led early and ultimately delivered a 1:38.646, missing overall pole by only 0.061 seconds. Pedro Clerot secured second in the group, keeping Van Amersfoort Racing in contention. Giltaire and Kato locked out the next two spots, while Bedrin took fifth after a committed effort. With Deligny on pole and Slater alongside on the front row, Race 1 promised an explosive showdown between two determined title contenders.
Race 1: Deligny dominates, Slater salvages
The opening race delivered drama from lights out. Deligny launched perfectly, defending against Slater into Tamburello while Bohra challenged Clerot for third. The intensity spiked on Lap 4 when Giltaire and Yamakoshi collided at Piratella, triggering a safety car. Seconds later, Beeton and David clashed at Acque Minerali, forcing a red flag.
Following a lengthy stoppage, a rolling restart resumed the action. Deligny surged clear immediately, maintaining flawless pace. Slater, eager to limit points loss, executed a decisive move on Clerot at Tamburello for second. Bohra mirrored the manoeuvre two laps later, securing third and sealing a double podium for R-ace GP. De Palo’s consistency earned him fifth, while Kato recovered to sixth. Bedrin fended off rookie sensation Dion Gowda for seventh, as Eyckmans claimed ninth before a penalty demoted him behind Belov.
Deligny’s dominant win marked his second of the season and reignited his championship challenge. Slater’s damage limitation in second, paired with Bohra’s breakthrough podium, ensured the title fight remained delicately poised.
Qualifying 2: Bohra’s breakthrough
Sunday morning brought a fresh twist. In Group B, Bohra delivered a career-best lap of 1:38.503, securing his maiden pole and leading an R-ace GP front-row lockout with Deligny second. De Palo followed in third after struggling for peak grip. Ruiqi Liu starred in fourth ahead of Beeton and Nakamura.
Group A saw Slater respond with a 1:38.530, missing overall pole by a mere 0.027 seconds. Bedrin claimed second for Monolite, while Clerot, Giltaire, and Sztuka completed the top five. Al Dhaheri settled for sixth despite flashes of strong pace. With Bohra starting alongside Slater on the front row, Race 2 was set to deliver high-stakes drama.
Race 2: Bohra converts, Slater disqualified
Bohra seized his chance brilliantly, nailing the start to lead into Tamburello. Slater tucked in behind, applying relentless pressure, but an early safety car for contact between Bhirombhakdi and Maschio at Rivazza neutralised proceedings. Bohra aced the restart, maintaining his advantage even as Slater loomed large in his mirrors.
The race saw further disruption after Beeton and Nakamura collided at Acque Minerali, prompting another safety car. Still, Bohra remained composed, dictating the pace and executing a flawless drive to claim his maiden FRECA victory. However, the drama intensified post-race when Slater was disqualified for a technical infringement. The ruling promoted Deligny to second, capping an exceptional weekend for the Frenchman, while Bedrin inherited the final podium spot.
Behind the leaders, De Palo finished fourth, salvaging vital points ahead of Clerot in fifth. Giltaire secured sixth, with Belov and Kato next in line. Ruiqi Liu impressed in ninth, and Eyckmans completed the top ten despite a track-limits penalty.
Bohra’s win and Slater’s disqualification dramatically shifted the championship narrative, injecting fresh intrigue as the season moves towards its climax.
Championship picture after Imola
The Imola weekend has transformed the championship narrative. Slater retains the lead with 186 points, but his advantage over De Palo has narrowed to just 16. What once appeared a dominant campaign for the Briton now looks like a knife-edge duel, with momentum shifting in De Palo’s favour after his decisive Race 2 triumph.
The fight for third has grown even more intriguing. Deligny’s double podium has propelled him to 140 points, overtaking Clerot, who sits on 128. Bohra, now on 108 points, remains within striking distance, though he must deliver consistently strong finishes to stay in contention.
In the teams’ battle, the gap between Prema Racing and R-ace GP has all but vanished. Prema lead with 277 points, but R-ace’s surge brings them within five points on 272—a margin so small that every qualifying result and fastest lap could tip the balance. Van Amersfoort Racing hold third on 220, while Trident and ART Grand Prix remain locked in their own tight fight at 180 and 179 points respectively.
With only a handful of rounds remaining, the tension is palpable. Every lap, every pit call, and every calculated risk will shape the destiny of this championship. One mistake could undo months of hard work, while one bold move could secure glory. After Imola, the 2025 FRECA season promises an electrifying run to the finish.
Drivers’ standings after Round 6 (Imola) of the 2025 FRECA
- Freddie Slater – 186 points (-18)
- Matteo De Palo – 170 points (-22)
- Enzo Deligny – 140 points (-43)
- Pedro Clerot – 128 points (-22)
- Akshay Bohra – 108 points (-40)
- Evan Giltaire – 99 points (-8)
- Hiyu Yamakoshi – 78 points
- Rashid Al Dhaheri – 75 points
- Taito Kato – 59 points (-12)
- Nikita Bedrin – 42 points (-21)
- Jin Nakamura – 31 points
- Kanato Le – 24 points (-2)
- Dion Gowda – 22 points (-4)
- Jack Beeton – 22 points
- Michael Belov – 17 points (-7)
- Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi – 8 points
- Giovanni Maschio – 4 points
- Ruiqi Liu – 2 points
- Ean Eyckmans – 1 point
Teams’ standings after Round 6 (Imola) of the 2025 FRECA
- Prema Racing – 277 points
- R-ace GP – 272 points
- Van Amersfoort Racing – 220 points
- Trident – 180 points
- ART Grand Prix – 179 points
- Saintéloc Racing – 42 points
- CL Motorsport – 13 points
- RPM – 5 points
