Popov wins action-filled FREC race two at Spa after safety car finish

Photo: ACO Sport

Trident’s Maximilian Popov took a lights-to-flag victory in a Formula Regional European race two at Spa-Francorchamps full of overtaking in the battle for second.

Sadly, the race finished behind the safety car, preventing a fitting climax to an action-packed race. Popov kept calm throughout, resisting attacks from his pursuers, who were swapping positions on every lap.

MP Motorsport’s Alexander Abkhazava held off R-ace GP’s Rashid Al Dhaheri for second, as the Mercedes-AMG junior remained the only driver to have scored points in every race so far in 2026.

RPM’s Jan Przyrowski was never far from the lead, and took a fine fourth, while the drive of the race came from Kean Nakamura-Berta, who fought his way up to fifth from 11th on the grid with a series of decisive overtakes.

Popov led into La Source with Al Dhaheri moving to the inside to block race one winner, Alexandre Munoz. Al Dhaheri was on Popov’s tail through Raidillon and pulled alongside down the Kemmel straight. However, Munoz took advantage of the double tow to make it three-wide as they turned in for Les Combes.

The Frenchman got his nose in front around the outside under braking but was unable to get it slowed down enough to make the corner, with Al Dhaheri and the following Pryzowski following him across run-off inside the corner. Munoz let Popov back through into Bruxelles while managing to still close the door on Al Dhaheri.

Abkhazava had managed to hold off a challenge from R-ace GP’s Emanuele Olivieri and had a look down the inside of Przyrowski into Pouhon. Olivieri was embroiled in a battle with Rodin Motorsport’s Alex Ninovic, clipping his rear wheel at the chicane, with G4 Racing’s Marcus Saeter putting him under pressure.

After briefly grabbing the lead on lap one, Munoz gradually slipped back down the field. Al Dhaheri pulled off a brave move into Eau Rouge on lap two, allowing Abkhazava to get a run up the hill to Les Combes, with Przyrowski demoting him further through Blanchimont.

Ninovic took advantage of a mistake from Munoz at Les Combes next time round to take fifth. Behind them, Wheldon was running eighth after losing positions in the early laps, while Nakamura-Berta sat just behind him after starting 11th

The five leaders had managed to get a small gap to their pursuers with Popov unable to break free. Abkhazava was on Al Dhaheri’s tail, but an attempted move at Les Combes saw him take to the run-off, handing back the position.

Abkhazav made the move on Al Dhaheri stick into the Bus Stop on lap four, second-to-fourth inseparable down the Kemmel straight, with Przyrowski demoting Al Dhaheri. Meanwhile, Nakamura-Berta continued his charge, moving up to eighth and only 3.2s behind the leader.

All the action behind had allowed Popov to break free from the pursuing group, extending his lead out over one second. Przyrowski was again level with Abkhazava up the hill, just millimetres between them, but had to give best under braking for Les Combes.

Nakamura-Berta picked off Munoz around the outside through Blanchimont, taking sixth into the chicane as Olivieri, steaming down the inside tried unsuccessfully to pass both.

Next time around, Al Dhaheri moved back to third as Abkhava hauled in Popov at the front. The three leaders were soon back running line astern, as Nakamura-Berta got a switchback move on Ninovic out of La Source to go fifth.

With 12 minutes remaining, the frenetic action was paused when the safety car was deployed with Saqer Almaosherji and Miguel Costa having made contact at the final chicane. The green flag was ready to fly with four minutes still on the clock, but as Popov backed up the field, Salim Hanna ran into the back of Dion Gowda, bringing the safety car back out.

With insufficient time remaining to clear the track, we were denied what was shaping up to be a thrilling finale as the race finished behind the safety car.

After the race, Popov was summoned to the stewards for allegedly failing to remain within 10 lengths of the safety car, but was cleared of any infringement.

Race results (12 laps)