Super start sets up Slater for controlled FREC win at Zandvoort

Photo: ACI Sport

A blistering start set up a dominant victory for Prema’s Freddie Slater in Formula Regional Europe’s first race at Zandvoort, moving him closer to the championship lead.

In blustery but dry conditions, Slater made a perfect start from the second row to thread his way between the front row pair of Van Amersfoort Racing’s Pedro Clerot and R-ace GP’s Akshay Bohra.

Clerot tried to close the door, but Slater was already through, taking the inside line and the lead into Tarzan. Thereafter, he executed two safety car restarts to perfection and was never under threat from his pursuers.

Bohra locked up briefly as he tried to follow through at the start but had to back out. He then kept the pressure on Clerot for the entire race, looking more purposeful in his challenge in the closing stages, but the Brazilian managed to keep his nose in front as the pair crossed the line just 0.029 seconds apart.

ART Grand Prix’s Evan Giltaire picked off R-ace’s Enzo Deligny for fourth at the start but was unable to get on terms with the podium trio, and never came under pressure from Deligny once past.

Trident’s Matteo De Palo and VAR’s Hiyu Yamakoshi were also never far apart in their duel for sixth, with honours going to De Palo. He now leads Slater by four points in the championship.

Rashid Al Dhaheri emerged on top of an all-Prema duel for eighth ahead of Jack Beeton, with VAR’s Dion Gowda claiming the final point in 10th.

A collision between G4 Racing’s Edouard Borgna and Akcel GP’s Aditya Kulkarni brought out the safety car at the end of lap one. The race was neutralised again on lap eight when Sainteloc Racing’s Nikita Bedrin, who had climbed nine places after starting from the back row following technical issues in qualifying, came to a halt on track.

Race results (17 laps)