Wrapping Up the FRECA Season on a Dramatic Note at Monza

For the final round of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) season, our team headed to the historic Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Known for its high speed and tricky conditions, the weekend delivered classic Monza drama, with wet weather challenging drivers throughout, except for a brief dry spell during Race 2.

This round concluded our 2024 FRECA season, and we’ll next see these cars in action at the Macau Grand Prix on November 17.

Qualifying 1

Saturday’s Qualifying 1 session brought a mix of good and bad news as extreme rain forced a cancellation, making the grid for Race 1 determined by the second collective test session held a day prior. As a result, Valerio Rinicella earned a strong starting position in P8, with Nikhil Bohra lining up in P13. Nikita Bedrin, meanwhile, was impacted by a 25-minute penalty due to his participation in Eurocup-3, which meant he could only set a lap in wet conditions. He ultimately started from the back of the grid, while other drivers benefitted from a dry track.

Race 1

As Race 1 got underway, Valerio showed impressive form, making swift overtakes and climbing to P6 in the early stages. Though he battled hard, he couldn’t break further into the top five. Nikhil also showed a solid pace, moving forward from P13 and reaching P10 mid-race. He ultimately finished in P8, although a post-race penalty later placed him in P10. Meanwhile, Nikita, starting last, fought his way through the pack, only to face a setback after contact with another car, pushing him to the back again. He regrouped and managed to end the race in P17, showcasing his pace. These results equaled the season-best finishes for Valerio and Nikhil, adding valuable points to the team standings.

Qualifying 2

Sunday brought wet conditions again for Qualifying 2, with Nikita initially leading the times of Group A and setting a best lap three-tenths faster than P2. Unfortunately, a late-session incident saw him stranded in the gravel, bringing out a red flag and erasing his best time because of this. He ended up in P14, while Valerio and Nikhil secured P22 and P20 respectively.

Race 2

The season finale took place under clear skies, setting the stage for an exciting final race at Monza. As the lights went out, Nikita wasted no time, moving up through the field with well-timed overtakes and maintaining a steady pace. Midway through the race, a safety car bunched up the field, allowing Valerio and Nikhil to advance into P12 and P13. With the race closing stages dominated by safety car periods and restarts, the team managed each situation with precision. However, a multi-car crash with just over five minutes remaining brought out a red flag, and the race concluded without resuming.

Standings after Round 10 at Monza: