Reflecting expectations, the first qualifying session of the year for the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine at the inaugural round at Hockenheimring was highly intense. Taking the first pole position of the year was Prema Racing’s Ferrari Driver Academy driver, Rafael Camara, rewarded for the hard work put in with the team over the winter to be ready for the season’s first event. The Brazilian clinched the advantage in Group A, the first out on the track this morning, after a tightly contested qualifying session. Enzo Peugeot, French driver for Saintéloc Racing, set the pace early on with one of the fastest laps of the session. Then ensued a fierce battle between Australian James Wharton (Prema Racing) and Finnish driver Tuukka Taponen (R-ace GP), exchanging the lead with Camara. Ultimately, it was the latter who prevailed in the final stages, setting the best lap with 1’34.848. Second was Finnish Ferrari Driver Academy driver Taponen, 0.134 behind, followed by Wharton at 0.180. Fourth position went to the fast Frenchman of Art Grand Prix, Alessandro Giusti, who, after being the fastest on track during the collective tests, concluded the qualifying session 0.328 behind the leader. Fifth was Brazilian Pedro Clerot of Van Amersfoort Racing with a gap of 0.660.
In Group B, Red Bull junior driver Enzo Deligny was among the first to lower the lap time, continuing to dominate his group’s top position. The French driver of R-ace GP set his best lap just as the checkered flag waved, stopping the clock at 1’35.470, earning him a spot on the front row alongside Camara. Starting Race 1 just behind him will be another French driver, ART Grand Prix’s Evan Giltaire, with an extremely reduced gap of only 0.062. The gaps remained infinitesimal for P3, secured by Maltese-Filipino Zachary David of R-ace GP, with 0.083. The fourth row will be occupied by Portuguese driver Ivan Domingues, representing Van Amersfoort Racing, with a gap of 0.255, followed by McLaren junior driver of Prema Racing, Ugo Ugochukwu, at 0.319.
Rafael Camara: “It was a very good start. We managed well all the pre-season tests, to be as as good as possible. I think we did a good job. It was very good to start this way. For sure we want the points in the race, so i still need to focus, but I want to say a big thanks to Prema, I have an amazing support; my engineer and mechanics did an amazing job. Looking forward to the race!”
Enzo Deligny: “It feels great. First race in this car, I really wasn’t expecting to be that competitive. The Team has done a great job, we worked really hard during the winter, I learned from my teammates, and I managed to do overall just a good quali session.”