FRECA: encouraging performances at Misano

06 May 2025

4 May 2025 – FRECA got underway this weekend at Misano, where the first round of the season took place. The performances of the drivers reached a crescendo throughout the weekend and, although there was a slight taste of unfinished business, the potential displayed is encouraging for the rest of the season.

The drivers were split into two distinct groups for qualifying. The fastest of the two starts at the front, while the results of the second group are adjusted for the grid position.

Qualifying and Race 1

On Saturday 3rd May, Jin Nakamura (#11) set a solid P3 in his session. Results were mixed for fellow drivers Akshay Bohra (#31), P9, and Enzo Deligny (#23), P10.

Later in the race, a collision on track between Jin Nakamura and another competitor prevented the Japanese driver from capitalising on his promising morning performance. His race ended prematurely. Enzo Deligny and Akshay Bohra managed to pull out all the stops and made a fine comeback. Deligny finished P6 and Bohra P7.

Qualifying and Race 2

The positive momentum continued on Sunday 4 May. During the qualifying session of race 2, Enzo Deligny was incisive and took a very good 2nd place, closely followed by Jin Nakamura who set the 4th best time. Akshay Bohra, for his part, put in a solid performance to take 5th place in his session.

In the race, Enzo Deligny finished just outside the top 3. Jin Nakamura, who was penalised on the grid following the incident in Race 1, finished 10th, while Akshay Bohra was 16th.

Despite a slight taste of unfinished business given the potential shown, the team leaves Misano with the confidence that it is moving in the right direction and the desire to confirm its progress in the next races.

The next round will take place in a fortnight’ time, on 17 and 18 May, at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

To watch the weekend’s races again, go to FRECA Youtube channel.

To follow our performances throughout the season, check out our Facebook and Instagram pages!

Italian F4: Emanuele Olivieri takes two podiums on the opening day at Misano

06 May 2025

Emanuele Olivieri F4 Italian Championship R-ace GP

4 March 2025 – The Italian Formula 4 championship kicked off this weekend on the Misano circuit. Emanuele Olivieri, F4 Middle East Champion, quickly established himself as a serious contender for the championship by finishing on the third step of the podium on two occasions.

With such a packed field, the weekend’s format was redesigned: qualifying took place in two separate series, while the drivers were split into three groups for the races. Emanuele Olivieri (#68), Alex Powell (#41), Emily Cotty (#42), Oleksandr Savinkov (#52) and Guy Albag (#44) have to contend with a highly competitive field.

Free practice

From the very first free practice, the drivers had to adapt to the circuit conditions. Emanuele Olivieri immediately placed himself in the leading group with a 5ᵉ place in Free Practice 1, followed by a 6ᵉ position in the second session. Alex Powell, Oleksandr Savinkov, Guy Albag and Emily Cotty all improve their performances in Free Practice 2.

Qualifying

Emanuele Olivieri’s promising talent was confirmed in qualifying, where he set the 4thᵉ fastest time overall. A solid result in a tough field, which puts him among the favourites for the races to come.

Race 1

In the first race on Saturday 3 May, Oleksandr Savinkov finished 16ᵉ, ahead of Emily Cotty 17ᵉ, who claimed victory in the women’s category. Guy Albag took 18ᵉ place.

Race 2

Emanuele Olivieri takes the podium with a fine 3ᵉ place, while Alex Powell secures the top 15 with an 11ᵉfinish. Oleksandr Savinkov finished 12ᵉ and Guy Albag 21ᵉ. After being pushed off the track by a competitor, Emily Cotty had to retire.

Race 3

Consistency pays off for Emanuele Olivieri, who takes his second consecutive podium (P3). Alex Powell confirms his progress with an 8ᵉ place.

Race 4

In the final race of the weekend, Emanuele Olivieri finished 4ᵉ, on the doorstep of a third podium. Alex Powell took 10ᵉ place. Oleksandr Savinkov finishes 17ᵉ, while Emily Cotty, 25ᵉ overall, takes a second win in the women’s category. Guy Albag finished 34ᵉ.

After this intense first round, all eyes now turn to the second stage of the championship in Vallelunga on 24 and 25 May.

To watch the races, go to the championship’s Youtube channel.

To follow our performances throughout the season, check out our Facebook and Instagram pages!

‘’The reactivity of the team and drivers in FRMEC was exemplary,’’ stresses Thibaut de Mérindol, R-ace GP’s boss

07 Mar 2025

Crowned champion in 2024, R-ace GP returned to defend its title in Formula Regional Middle East. After a difficult start that slowed its performance, the team, more determined than ever, bounced back to finish second in the championship and third in the drivers’ standings.

‘’The first round in Abu Dhabi was a huge disappointment,’’ admits Thibaut de Mérindol, Team Principal of R-ace GP. The reason: the new tyre specifications, which gave the team a hard time and put the brakes on the hoped-for performances.

But by the third round in Dubai, R-ace GP had made an impressive recovery in the rankings. ‘’The reactivity of the team and drivers was exemplary,’’ says the team boss. ‘’It’s not easy to maintain a good state of mind when you get off to a bad start, especially in a short championship with one race following another. However, they were able to find solutions and recreate the momentum.’’

Drivers making progress

‘’Ugo [Ugochukwu] played a decisive role in the team,’’ he insists. ‘’He was the one who took on the role of leader and helped us turn the corner. We relied a lot on him.’’ The young American, who will continue his season in Formula 3, finished third in the drivers’ championship.

‘’Enzo [Deligny] has improved this season, but he still has a lot of work to do to reach the expected level and take on the role of leader. He can count on all the teams’s energy to support him and help him progress,’’ says Thibaut de Mérindol.

Jin Nakamura, meanwhile, has shown promising potential. ‘’He still needs to adapt culturally and technically to European motorsport, which is nothing like what he experienced in Japan. Here, he’s discovering a whole new way of working. His driving is still a little instinctive, but he has a real desire to learn and improve.’’

‘’Akshay [Bohra] struggled to bounce back after our difficult first weekend. But we saw his true worth, particularly during our tests last year. We know what he’s capable of once he regains his confidence’’, he concludes.

Lessons for the rest of the season

Despite a rocky start, R-ace GP has shown itself to be adaptable and resilient. While the title may have eluded them this year, the team will be taking away some solid lessons that will enable them to approach the rest of the season with ambition.

The European season kicks off in less than two months’ time, at the start of May. In the meantime, stay tuned on our social media – Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn – to find out more about our line-up in Formula Regional by Alpine (FRECA).

FRMEC season in numbers:

12 podium finishes.
4 wins.
4 second places.
4 third places.
259 points scored by the team starting from Round 3 (including 159 by Ugo Ugochukwu), making it the team with the most points scored over the last three rounds.
14 points difference with the leader of the team ranking.

‘‘2025 marks the revival of our F4 team,’‘ says R-ace GP’s Team Principal Thibaut de Mérindol

07 Mar 2025

Emanuele Olivieri F4 Middle East R-ace GP

Press release, 7 March 2025 – The 2025 season is off to a flying start for R-ace GP and its F4 team. Having just returned from the Middle East with the double title of Team and Driver Champion, as well as the title of Driver Runner-Up, it’s time to reflect on the season. And with 22 podium finishes, including 11 victories, R-ace GP Team Principal Thibaut de Mérindol could not have hoped for a better result for his team.

‘‘The level of performance and the results achieved have been more than satisfying,’‘ explains Thibaut de Mérindol, Team Principal of R-ace GP. ‘‘The in-depth work we began in 2024, and the efforts made over the past year to get this team up and running again, especially with the involvement of Cyril Comte [R-ace GP’s Technical Director], have paid off.’‘ The team’s technical and operational progress has been rewarded this year with three titles.

Drivers who live up to expectations

‘‘Emanuele [Olivieri] and Alex [Powell] are excellent drivers who have done what was expected of them, which is to take on the role of co-leaders of the team,’‘ he adds. ‘‘We saw their potential last season, and we were convinced that such a pairing of drivers would make a major contribution to raising our team to the highest level. That’s why I’d like to thank them and their management for the confidence they have shown in us by joining our team.’‘

‘‘On several occasions, Oleksandr [Savinkov] has shown real potential. But there’s still work to be done to master and maintain his level of performance,’‘ continued the R-ace GP director. ‘‘As for Emily [Cotty], she has made good linear and continuous progress. Given her lack of experience, the starting point is really satisfying, especially for a rookie,’‘ he concludes.

The European season kicks off in less than two months’ time, at the start of May. Until then, stay tuned on our social networks – Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn – to find out more about our F4 Italy and Euro 4 line-ups.

The F4 Middle East 2025 season in numbers:

23 podium finishes.
11 wins.
3 second places.
8 third places.
9 pole positions out of 10 qualifying sessions.
602 points in the team standings.
212 points scored by Alex Powell from Round 3, making him the top scorer in the second half of the season.