Feeder Series previews the track action ahead this weekend as the two series under the Formula Middle East banner begin their seasons and Formula Regional Oceania heads to Hampton Downs.

By Feeder Series

After FR Oceania’s season opener in Taupō last weekend, two more junior single-seater series will get their 2025 seasons underway this time around.

FR Middle East and the renamed F4 Middle East will hold the first of their respective five rounds this weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit in the United Arab Emirates. The two series have already held two days of testing at the venue on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of their slots on the support bill for the 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi endurance race.

FRegional Oceania: Round 2, Hampton Downs

Circuit: Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, 3.800 km

Timetable: All times local (UTC+13)

Thursday 16 January

• 13:10-13:40: Test 1
• 15:45–16:15: Test 2

Friday 17 January

• 9:55–10:25: Practice 1
• 13:20–13:50: Practice 2
• 15:35–16:05: Practice 3

Saturday 18 January

• 10:25–10:40: Qualifying 1
• 14:39–15:39: Race 1, 18 laps

Sunday 19 January

• 9:07–9:22: Qualifying 2
• 12:13–13:03: Race 2, 18 laps
• 16:25–17:53: Race 3, 23 laps

How to follow: All sessions will have live timing on MyLaps Speedhive. Races will be broadcast on Stuff SpeedHub and Motorsport.tv.

Weather forecast: Dry Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Isolated rain showers possible Saturday afternoon.

What to know: The second round of FR Oceania takes place this weekend at Hampton Downs. 

Heading into the second round, F2-bound Arvid Lindblad leads the championship standings with 78 points. Matías Zagazeta, who became the first Peruvian driver to win a FR Oceania race last weekend, sits second in the championship standings with 73 points. Zack Scoular, who surprised the field with a win on his FR debut at Taupō, rounds out the top three with 68 points.

In Thursday’s testing, Josh Pierson, who currently sits fourth in the standings, topped the timesheets in the morning session. Lindblad, Scoular and Supercars champion Will Brown have led other sessions already held. Other drivers to watch apart from the top four are series returnees Michael Shin and Alex Crosbie, with Shin having taken two podiums at Hampton Downs last season. 

Report by Kaylene Lau

From the press: We caught up with Scoular earlier this week to discuss his maiden single-seater victory and his path to FR Oceania, which began by winning the Tony Quinn Foundation Shootout at Hampton Downs in November. Read the interview here.

FRegional Middle East: Round 1, Yas Marina

Circuit: Yas Marina Circuit, 5.281 km

Timetable: All times local (UTC+4)

Friday 17 January

• 14:20–15:20: Test 1
• 20:25–21:25: Test 2

Saturday 18 January

• 10:45–11:15: Free Practice
• 16:50–17:05: Qualifying 1
• 17:10–17:25: Qualifying 2
• 21:45–22:20: Race 1, 28 minutes + 1 lap

Sunday 19 January

• 17:55–18:30: Race 2, 28 minutes + 1 lap
• 20:45–21:20: Race 3, 28 minutes + 1 lap

How to follow: All sessions will have live timing. All three races will be broadcast on the championship’s official YouTube channel.

Weather forecast: Dry and sunny throughout the entire weekend.

What to know: After its birth two years ago, FR Middle East begins its 2025 journey in Abu Dhabi as the Yas Marina Circuit hosts round one of the season.

The series, now under the new Formula Middle East banner, has introduced a new scoring system. The top 12 will now earn points, and there will be two bonus points awarded to the driver who will set the fastest lap time in each of the two qualifying sessions. Moreover, a new behaviour warning points (BWP) system to take driving violations into account is set to be implemented for the first time in the series’ history.

Reigning teams’ champions R-ace GP lead the 26-car field, with outfits such as Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited and PHM Racing eager to fight for the crown in 2025. Soon-to-be F3 rookies Brando Badoer and Ugo Ugochukwu as well as R-ace GP’s Enzo Deligny are among the favourites for the drivers’ title, while reigning F4-level champions such as Freddie Slater and Akshay Bohra will be among the youngsters hot on their heels.

Read our FR Middle East season guide here to learn about the changes for 2025, the calendar and the entry list.

Report by Daniele Spadi

F4 Middle East: Round 1, Yas Marina

Circuit: Yas Marina Circuit, 5.281 km

Timetable: All times local (UTC+4)

Friday 17 January

• 13:10–14:10: Test 1
• 19:15–20:15: Test 2

Saturday 18 January

• 10:05–10:35: Free Practice
• 16:05–16:20: Qualifying 1
• 16:25–16:40: Qualifying 2
• 20:40–21:15: Race 1, 28 minutes + 1 lap

Sunday 19 January

• 8:50–9:25: Race 2, 28 minutes + 1 lap
• 19:40–20:15: Race 3, 28 minutes + 1 lap

How to follow: All sessions will have live timing. All three races will be broadcast on the championship’s official YouTube channel.

Weather forecast: Dry and sunny throughout the entire weekend.

What to know: Following a rebrand from F4 UAE to F4 Middle East as part of the new Formula Middle East umbrella, the longest-running F4 winter series returns for its ninth season. Like FR Middle East, the series has undergone several rule changes, including points for the top 12 finishers and the new BWP system. 

Nine teams and 29 cars are featured on the entry list for round one in Abu Dhabi. As in previous years, Prema Racing and Mumbai Falcons by Prema appear the teams to beat. The Mumbai Falcons entry is headed by last year’s runner-up, Kean Nakamura-Berta. The 17-year-old dominated the two days of pre-season testing, coming first or second in all six sessions. Close behind him were Prema’s Sebastian Wheldon, who has impressed in American single-seaters, and R-ace GP’s Emanuele Olivieri. 

The grid also contains 11 rookies, some of whom are stepping up directly from karting, as well as a handful of drivers with under a year of F4 experience under their belt who do not meet the rookie requirements. For more information on the series rebrand and a detailed look at the teams and drivers competing, check out our season guide here.

Report by Calla Kra-Caskey

All times and forecasts listed above are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, follow each series’ websites or social media pages.

Header photo credit: Formula Regional Middle East Championship