Driving for R-ace GP, Sano led throughout as team-mate Rashid Al Dhaheri secured a one-two finish for the France-based squad, which also celebrated Emanuele Olivieri claiming top Rookie class honours in fourth overall.
By finishing second, Emirati Al Dhaheri retakes the lead of the provisional Drivers’ standings.
In contrast, erstwhile championship leader Sebastian Wheldon (MP Motorsport) finished outside the points following a spin on lap 10, while title contender Kean Nakamura-Berta (Prema Racing) had to settle for 10th.
Meanwhile, Rodin Motorsport’s Reza Seewooruthun completed the podium in third place, his first top-three finish in eight races.
Following his first FIA FREC win, Sano said: “I’m super happy. It’s my first win in Europe, which makes it even more special for me. I’d like to say a big thank you to the team, to everyone supporting me, and to TGR for their continued support. Tomorrow we have another qualifying session and another race, so the target is to do it all again and keep the momentum going.“
Qualifying 2 is follows from 08:30 tomorrow (Sunday). Race 2 is scheduled from 15:55 over a duration of 30 minutes plus one lap. All the action will be streamed live on YouTube as well as being broadcast by 70 networks across 200 territories worldwide.
FIA FREC explained
Taking over from the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) for 2026, FIA FREC enjoys the full support of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide.
Positioned one step above Formula 4 in the FIA Single-Seater Pyramid, FIA FREC, which is organised by FIA Member Club Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI), caters exclusively for the second-generation Formula Regional Tatuus T 326. All-new for 2026, the Pirelli-equipped car has been developed by the Italian constructor in partnership with the FIA and follows the aerodynamic philosophy deployed in Formula 1 to encourage closer racing. Its design also represents another step in terms of performance and safety.
The second-generation Formula Regional Tatuus T 326 features the new Race Mode push to pass system, which allows drivers to trigger full engine performance for a period of time when activated by a button pressed from inside the cockpit. The amount of time depends on how many times the button is pressed but each driver has a total of 100 seconds available per race. Race Mode’s introduction for the 2026 FIA FREC season is the result of extensive research and development managed by the FIA.
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