Race Report: Formula Regional Middle East Trophy - Round 2

Round 2 - 24th January-25th January 2026 - Yas Marina Circuit (Corkscrew)

Yas Marina Circuit

Round 2 at Yas Marina was a weekend defined by fighting back and dealing with challenges. The Formula Regional Middle East Trophy grid is without doubt one of the most competitive fields I’ve raced in, and the closeness of every session and race really showed that again this weekend.

Qualifying

Qualifying was tough, struggling to find the optimal set up. I ended up 26th on the grid for race 1 and 27th for race 2. With how tight the field is, even a small margin makes a big difference, and it meant we had plenty of work to do in the races.

Credit: © Dutch Photo Agency

Race 1

Race 1 was shaping up to be a solid recovery drive early on. I was able to make progress through the pack and had worked my way up to 25th with around 12 minutes to go, settling into a good rhythm and starting to battle with the cars around me.

The race was then red-flagged with around eight minutes remaining after a major incident involving Ilceu Feldmann Neto and Yuhao Fu, which saw Ilceu upside down. Thankfully, he was okay.

We restarted behind the safety car at 15:40 local time, with only around roughly three laps left on the clock. I lined up 25th, and with the entire grid bunched together, it really highlighted just how competitive this championship is.

From the restart, everyone was going for it. There were moments with four cars abreast ahead of me, and the final laps turned into a tense five-car battle as I diced with Newman Chi, Daryani, Gowda, and Hanna, all of us pushing right to the limit.

On the final lap, the tyres were really struggling, and many drivers were fighting to stay within track limits. The corkscrew was particularly tricky, when you drop downhill, you can’t see the apex until you’re almost on it, and there were lots of track-limit warnings throughout the race. 

Unfortunately, on that last lap an issue with the car bringing my race to an abrupt end in the final moments. I was able to signal to the marshals straight away with a thumbs up to show I was okay, but within a split second, the battle and the race was over for me. A frustrating end after a really intense and promising run.

Credit: © Dutch Photo Agency

Race 2

Race 2 was one of the most unusual races I’ve ever been part of. Rain at Yas Marina is rare but rain on the corkscrew is even rarer.

Starting dead last in 31st, I felt like I really had nothing to lose. With the rain still threatening, the grid all struggled to make a call on tyre choices for the race with many changes being made after the formation lap. This took me back to the Hungoring last year where the weather had been so unpredictable, race strategy became more about instinct and feel. In the end only 2 drivers risked slicks and I along with the rest of the field opted for wets. 

The pit lane, main straight, Turn 9, and the section by the W Hotel were all still very wet, with huge spray creating almost fog-like conditions. Visibility was minimal, cars were sliding everywhere, and for safety the race started behind the safety car due to the standing water.

Once we got going properly, the progress started. The track was drying at different rates in different corners, meaning tyre choice advantages were changing lap by lap. Everything relied on instinct and reading the conditions.

With 10 minutes remaining on the clock, I’d climbed to 13th from 31st, it was lovely to hear a shoutout “stunning racecraft from the Brit” on the broadcast because I felt like I was giving it my all in those moments. 

I continued to push, overtaking the current championship leader Aldhaheri to move into 12th, and after incidents ahead involving Dupe, Roussel, and Costa, I was able to slot into 9th position with around seven minutes remaining. 

Another safety car came out at Turn 4 after Feldmann was beached on the curb, and the race ultimately finished under safety car conditions. I crossed the line 9th, and while I couldn’t help but feel there may have been more on the table, it was a race I genuinely enjoyed. The ever-changing conditions, strategy gambles, and non-stop battles made it an incredible 22 minutes of racing. 

It was also a great result for the team, with my teammate Alex Ninovic taking the win and Rehm charging through to 16th.

Race 3

For Race 3, I qualified 27th and finished 21st after another eventful race.

An early safety car came out with 25 minutes to go after Popov retired. On the restart with just over 19 minutes remaining, I was running 21st, with Rehm right behind me, and it was time to go racing again.

The track was still a bit loose through the corkscrew, and debris avoidance was key. There were some intense battles, including Dupé and Roussel going at it, where I made a big move up the inside. Rehm followed me through, and I had to fight hard to hold position, it was tight and dropped back to 24th.

I recovered to 23rd before another safety car with 11 minutes to go after Gowda lost a left-rear wheel. On the restart, Aldhaheri held the pack up before launching, and the final laps were flat-out.

Coming onto the final lap, I was able to move past Frey to finish 21st, closing out a tough but hard-fought weekend.

Credit: © Dutch Photo Agency

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a weekend that demanded resilience. Between incidents, changing conditions, and constant battles, it was about staying focused and taking every opportunity. The pace, racecraft, and fight shown (especially in Race 2) give me plenty of confidence heading into the next round.

Tune in for the next round - 30th January-1st February - Dubai Autodrome

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