The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) officially resumed at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this morning, marking the beginning of Round 8 of the 2025 season. Drivers took to the track for the first of two collective tests, and the battle for the championship immediately took centre stage. The cool morning conditions offered the perfect opportunity for competitors to showcase both outright speed and consistency.
De Palo sets the standard as Slater maintains pressure in title battle
Matteo De Palo, representing Trident, established himself as the driver to beat. He delivered an outstanding lap of 1:36.048, which placed him narrowly ahead of Michael Belov of CL Motorsport by just 0.034 seconds. De Palo’s performance not only highlighted his sharp pace but also reaffirmed his determination to strengthen his position in the title fight.
Freddie Slater of Prema Racing followed closely in third position with a lap of 1:36.262. Despite missing out on the top spot, the British driver demonstrated once again his ability to remain consistently near the front of the field. With the championship standings delicately poised, Slater’s effort reinforced the sense of anticipation surrounding the closing stages of the season.
Van Amersfoort Racing showcase depth
Van Amersfoort Racing (VAR) emerged as one of the strongest teams in the session. Rookie driver Dion Gowda impressed by finishing fourth with a time of 1:36.531, making him the fastest among the first-year competitors. Furthermore, his teammates Pedro Clerot and Hiyu Yamakoshi secured fifth and sixth places respectively, thereby underlining the squad’s collective strength.
Strong midfield performances
Nikita Bedrin of Saintéloc Racing delivered a solid run to secure seventh place. Behind him, Enzo Deligny (R-ace GP) and Ruiqi Liu (Trident) were separated by a mere one-thousandth of a second, occupying eighth and ninth. Rashid Al Dhaheri of Prema Racing completed the top ten, ensuring that three Prema cars featured prominently in the leading group.
Chasing the top ten
Just outside the top ten, Jack Beeton (Prema Racing) placed eleventh. He was followed closely by Taito Kato (ART Grand Prix), Akshay Bohra (R-ace GP), and Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi (Trident). Evan Giltaire, representing ART Grand Prix, completed the top fifteen with a best effort of 1:37.002. This section of the order once again demonstrated the competitiveness of the midfield, where margins remain extremely narrow.
New entrants and returning faces
Beyond the established contenders, the session also introduced both new and returning names. On one hand, Yuanpu Cui made his debut with Prema Racing as a wild card entry. As a member of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team Junior Programme, Cui gained invaluable mileage during his first outing, thereby enhancing his development within the single-seater ladder. On the other hand, RPM welcomed back familiar competitors. Santiago Ramos, having recently competed in FIA Formula 3, returned to FRECA alongside Macéo Capietto, and together they added further intrigue to the grid. Consequently, the morning session not only highlighted current championship protagonists but also offered a glimpse of future potential.
Looking ahead to the afternoon
Looking ahead, the focus now shifts towards the second collective test, scheduled for 15:15 CEST this afternoon. Because track time remains limited to 50 minutes, teams will inevitably concentrate on fine-tuning car balance, improving long-run pace, and extracting maximum performance. Therefore, every lap will hold significant importance in shaping strategies for the remainder of the weekend. Ultimately, with the championship fight delicately balanced, today’s afternoon session promises to be no less decisive than the morning’s tightly fought battle.
