FRME | 2026 | Round 3 | Dubai

Spread the love

Race 2 of the 2026 Formula Regional Middle East (FRME) Trophy at Dubai Autodrome delivered repeated interruptions, but Salim Hanna controlled proceedings from the front to secure a commanding victory. A reverse-grid format reshuffled the order following Race 1, while multiple Safety Car periods and retirements reshaped the battle behind. Despite the chaos, Hanna capitalised on a strong start and composed restarts to claim victory ahead of Alex Ninovic and Jan Przyrowski.

Reverse grid sets the stage for 2026 FRME Race 2 in Dubai

With the top 12 starters determined by reversing the top 12 finishers from Race 1, Pinnacle Motorsport’s Alex Powell lined up on pole position after finishing P12 earlier in the weekend. Mumbai Falcons Racing’s Salim Hanna joined him on the front row in P2, while RPM’s Jan Przyrowski started P3 alongside Rodin Motorsport’s Alex Ninovic in P4.

Behind them, CL Motorsport’s Zhenrui Chi occupied P5, ahead of R-ace GP’s Emanuele Olivieri in P6 and teammate Yuki Sano in P7. Trident’s Maximilian Popov lined up P8, followed by R-ace GP’s Rashid Al Dhaheri in P9 and Mumbai Falcons Racing’s Kean Nakamura-Berta in P10. MP Motorsport’s Alexander Abkhazava started P11, while Race 1 winner Taito Kato began from P12 for ART Grand Prix.

Strong launch but early interruption

As the lights went out, Hanna made an excellent start and immediately surged into the lead. Ninovic followed him through into P2, while Przyrowski held P3. Powell, however, lost ground at the start and dropped to P4.

However, the race stalled almost immediately. With approximately 27 minutes remaining on the clock, the Safety Car deployed after Olivieri stopped on track following a collision with another driver. The incident made Olivieri the first retirement of the race and neutralised the field before any rhythm could develop.

Restart drama and multiple retirements

With just over 21 minutes remaining, racing resumed as Hanna led the field across the line. He wasted no time in reasserting control, quickly opening a gap over Ninovic and Przyrowski.

Behind them, Powell struggled to match the pace and came under immediate pressure from Chi. Further back, Sano and Al Dhaheri fought aggressively for position. However, with under 20 minutes on the clock, the two collided, triggering another Safety Car. Sano retired on the spot, while Al Dhaheri benefited from the incident and moved up to P5.

The drama continued under caution. Powell stopped on track shortly afterwards, adding his name to the growing list of retirements alongside Olivieri and Sano and ending what had begun as a promising reverse-grid opportunity.

Hanna controls the restart as battles erupt

With approximately 10 minutes remaining, the Safety Car returned to the pit lane, and Hanna once again dictated the restart. He launched decisively, diving into Turn 16 to create immediate breathing space over Ninovic.

As the leaders crossed the line, Przyrowski and Ninovic ran side-by-side in a tense fight for second place. Their battle allowed Hanna to extend his advantage and brought Chi and Al Dhaheri into podium contention. At Turn 10, Chi attempted a bold move around the outside of Przyrowski, with Al Dhaheri close behind, forming a three-way fight for the final podium position.

Meanwhile, Hanna continued to edge away at the front, maintaining a calm and controlled lead.

Midfield incidents reshape the order

With around seven minutes remaining, Reza Seewooruthun pulled into the pit lane and retired. At the same time, Popov applied sustained pressure on Nakamura-Berta for P6. The battle ended in contact, sending Nakamura-Berta into a spin and dropping him down the order.

Further back, smaller battles unfolded without major positional changes, though Sebastian Wheldon quietly made progress to P18 after starting deep in the field. Nakamura-Berta and Francisco Macedo later joined Seewooruthun in the pit lane, ending their races early.

Late battles but no challenge for the lead

With just over three minutes remaining, Abkhazava and Andrea Dupé engaged in a tight fight for P7. Dupé completed the move and successfully defended the position, while Kabir Anurag ran wide from P10 and rejoined in P11.

Despite pockets of late action, the closing minutes passed without major upheaval. Hanna maintained a comfortable margin at the front, while Ninovic and Przyrowski continued to dispute second place right to the chequered flag.

Hanna seals a controlled 2026 FRME Race 2 victory in Dubai

Ultimately, Hanna cruised to victory with a composed drive. Ninovic secured second place, while Przyrowski completed the podium after a sustained late challenge. Chi finished fourth, ahead of Popov and Al Dhaheri, as the race concluded with a heavily reshuffled order following multiple incidents.