2026 Formula Regional Middle East Trophy

The 2026 Formula Regional Middle East Trophy was a multi-event Formula Regional open-wheel single seater motor racing championship. The championship featured a mix of professional and amateur drivers, competing in Formula Regional cars. Known since 2023 as the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, the series was rebranded under the Trophy guise after the FIA introduced a new concept for single-seater championships held over shorter, constrained timeframes.^[1] The change in guise coincided with a change in technical regulations, as the series switched to a new chassis and engine spec.^[2]

The championship was held over four rounds in January and February 2026.^[3] Kean Nakamura-Berta won the Drivers' Championship title at the final race of the season and in doing so also won the Rookie Cup and helped his team, the Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited, to defend their Teams' Championship title.

The championship retired the Tatuus F3 T-318 chassis it had used since its inception and replaced it with the new Tatuus T-326, powered by a 1.6 litre, 3-cylinder Toyota engine running on Pirelli tires.^[2] The eleven teams competing in the 2026 season were announced on 12 December 2025.^[4][5]

Team No. Driver Status Rounds Rodin Motorsport 2 Alex Ninovic[6] All 4 Reza Seewooruthun[6] All 18 Maxim Rehm[6] R All Trident 3 Maximilian Popov[a][7] R All 47 Andrija Kostić[7] R All 87 Kai Daryanani[b][7] All RPM 5 Miguel Costa[8] R All 8 Jan Przyrowski[9] R All 99 Giovanni Maschio[8] All CL Motorsport 6 Enea Frey[10] R All 28 Zhenrui Chi[c][11] All 57 Michael Belov[d][11] 1 69 Reno Francot[12] R 3–4 ART Grand Prix 7 Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak[13] 4 19 Kabir Anurag[14] R All 27 Matteo Giaccardi[15] R All 89 Taito Kato[16] 1–3 Van Amersfoort Racing 11 Francisco Macedo[17] All 55 Dion Gowda[18] All 68 Yuhao Fu[19] R All R-ace GP 12 Yuki Sano[20] All 71 Rashid Al Dhaheri[21] All 73 Gerrard Xie[22] 1–2 Emanuele Olivieri[23] R 3–4 G4 Racing 14 Artem Severiukhin[d][24] R All 24 Jules Roussel[25] R All 67 Andrea Dupé[26] R All MP Motorsport 15 Alexander Abkhazava[27] All 16 Christian Ho[27] 1–2 Jesse Carrasquedo Jr.[12] 3–4 17 Alceu Feldmann Neto[27] All Pinnacle Motorsport 29 August Raber[e][28] R All 41 Alex Powell[28] R All Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited 51 Kean Nakamura-Berta[f][29] R All 88 Salim Hanna R All 98 Sebastian Wheldon R All

Icon Status R Rookie

The 2026 calendar was officially announced on 31 October 2025.^[3] The adoption of the Formula Regional Trophy format saw the number of race weekends reduced to four, with the series making two visits in Yas Marina Circuit, compared to three in the previous year.

Round		Circuit	Date	Support bill	Map of circuit locations
1	R1	Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island (Grand Prix Circuit)	17 January	Gulf Radical Cup UAE4 Series	Yas Marina Dubai Lusail
	R2		18 January
	R3
2	R1	Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island (Corkscrew Circuit)	24 January	UAE4 Series
	R2		25 January
	R3
3	R1	Dubai Autodrome, Dubai Motor City (Grand Prix Circuit)	30 January	Asian Le Mans Series (4H of Dubai) UAE4 Series
	R2		1 February
	R3
4	R1	Lusail International Circuit, Lusail (Grand Prix Circuit)	12 February	UAE4 Series
	R2		13 February
	R3

Round		Circuit	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning driver	Winning team	Rookie winner
1	R1	Yas Marina Circuit (Grand Prix Circuit)	Alexander Abkhazava	Kean Nakamura-Berta	Alexander Abkhazava	MP Motorsport	Maximilian Popov
	R2			Christian Ho	Christian Ho	MP Motorsport	Miguel Costa
	R3		Rashid Al Dhaheri	Rashid Al Dhaheri	Rashid Al Dhaheri	R-ace GP	Alex Powell
2	R1	Yas Marina Circuit (Corkscrew Circuit)	Kean Nakamura-Berta	Rashid Al Dhaheri	Rashid Al Dhaheri	R-ace GP	Kean Nakamura-Berta
	R2			Alex Powell	Alex Ninovic	Rodin Motorsport	Jan Przyrowski
	R3		Sebastian Wheldon	Rashid Al Dhaheri	Rashid Al Dhaheri	R-ace GP	Kean Nakamura-Berta
3	R1	Dubai Autodrome (Grand Prix Circuit)	Taito Kato	Kean Nakamura-Berta	Taito Kato	ART Grand Prix	Kean Nakamura-Berta
	R2			Maximilian Popov	Salim Hanna	Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited	Salim Hanna
	R3		Alex Powell	Kean Nakamura-Berta	Alexander Abkhazava	MP Motorsport	Kean Nakamura-Berta
4	R1	Lusail International Circuit (Grand Prix Circuit)	Kean Nakamura-Berta	Sebastian Wheldon	Kean Nakamura-Berta	Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited	Kean Nakamura-Berta
	R2		Race cancelled due to issues with spec engine parts requiring replacement[30]
	R3		Kean Nakamura-Berta	Emanuele Olivieri	Kean Nakamura-Berta	Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited	Kean Nakamura-Berta

The 2026 Formula Regional Middle East Trophy began with two race weekends at Yas Marina Circuit. MP Motorsport's Alexander Abkhazava and R-ace GP's Rashid Al Dhaheri shared pole positions in qualifying at the first weekend. The first race of the season began with Abkhazava keeping Al Dhaheri and Trident's Maximilian Popov behind at the start before winning a processional race with little changes in the order.^[31] The second race began with multiple cars stalling, among them Rodin's Reza Seewooruthun, who was then heavily hit by CL Motorsport's Michael Belov, causing a red flag. Trident's Andrija Kostić led the restart before being handed a drive-through penalty, which handed the lead to RPM's Miguel Costa before MP's Christian Ho overtook him to claim victory. Rodin's Alex Ninovic took third, before stalling off the front row in race three. That allowed Al Dhaheri to pull away, leading Pinnacle's Alex Powell and Ho through a second red flag-interrupted race to take his maiden Formula Regional victory and the lead in the standings.^[32][33]

Round two used Yas Marina's corkscrew layout, and pole positions in qualifying were claimed by the Mumbai Falcons pair of Kean Nakamura-Berta and Sebastian Wheldon. Al Dhaheri moved past Nakamura-Berta at the start of the opening race as Powell slotted into third. The race was red-flagged with five laps to go after contact between MP’s Alceu Feldmann Neto and VAR’s Yuhao Fu saw the Brazilian's car flipped upside down, but the order at the top remained static. Ninovic started race two on reverse-grid pole position, with most drivers starting on wet tyres after pre-race rain. He lost the lead to RPM's Jan Przyrowski at the start, but was able to regain it on lap five. He then gapped Przyrowski and Popov before the race finished under safety car. Race three saw Al Dhaheri once again move past the polesitter at the start, with Wheldon also losing out to Nakamura-Berta one corner later. Al Dhaheri remained faultless throughout two safety car periods to claim victory and grow his championship lead to 35 points over Nakamura-Berta.^[34]

The Dubai Autodrome hosted round three, where ART Grand Prix driver Taito Kato and Powell shared pole positions in qualifying. Defensive driving at the start of the opening race saw Kato hold off Abkhazava, while Nakamura-Berta fended off Al Dhaheri. The top four positions remained static, handing Kato his maiden Formula Regional win.^[35] Powell started the second race form reversed-grid pole position ahead of Mumbai Falcons driver Salim Hanna, but a bad start saw him drop to fourth exiting the opening corner. Hanna claimed the lead ahead of Ninovic and Przyrowski and led throughout two safety car interruptions to take victory.^[36] Powell crashed and retired, with subsequent repairs forcing him to miss race three. With R-ace GP's Yuki Sano also missing the race, Abkhazava had a clear road ahead despite originally qualifying third. He had to fend off Nakamura-Berta multiple times before being able to take the win. R-ace GP's Emanuele Olivieri came third, with Al Dhaheri not scoring and his lead over Nakamura-Berta reduced to 24 points.^[37]

The final round was held at Lusail International Circuit, and it began with disruptions. Engine drive belt defects for multiple drivers in free practice prompted organizers to order spare parts from Europe. That saw the schedule reduced to just two races, with the reversed-grid race cancelled.^[30] When qualifying came around, championship chaser Nakamura-Berta was the man to beat as he claimed both pole positions. Poor starts to the first race for Powell and Al Dhaheri saw Wheldon and Przyrowski move past them into the podium positions. After initial attacks by Wheldon, positions stabilized and Nakamura-Berta took victory. With Al Dhaheri finishing sixth, the gap in the championship was reduced to just seven points. Race two saw Nakamura-Berta able to stay in first as Wheldon and Powell fought over second place. A safety car followed after multiple incidents. Nakamura-Berta had a faultless restart and a trouble-free rest of the race, which, coupled with a seventh-place finish for Al Dhaheri, saw him claim the championship title.^[38]

Points were awarded to the top ten classified drivers as follows.^[39]

Pos Driver YMC1 YMC2 DUB LUS Pts R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 1 Kean Nakamura-Berta 4 Ret 5 2 5 2 3 Ret 2 1 C 1 151 2 Rashid Al Dhaheri 2 5 1 1 15 1 4 5 16 6 C 7 139 3 Alexander Abkhazava 1 6 17 10 Ret 4 2 7 1 26 C Ret 95 4 Alex Powell 6 23 2 3 28 6 12 Ret DNS 4 C 3 76 5 Sebastian Wheldon 31 21 14 7 4 3 Ret 17 9 2 C 2 71 6 Jan Przyrowski 14 26 13 11 2 14 10 3 4 3 C 5 71 7 Maximilian Popov 3 8 6 8 3 Ret 5 4 23 9 C 11 70 8 Alex Ninovic 7 3 18 12 1 13 9 2 26 15 C 18 66 9 Kabir Anurag 22 14 4 6 6 5 16 9 20 5 C 4 62 10 Salim Hanna 15 4 20 24 21 12 11 1 6 10 C 6 54 11 Taito Kato 5 Ret DNS 14 11 8 1 11 5 49 12 Christian Ho 8 1 3 17 22 11 44 13 Yuki Sano 24 13 10 4 8 7 6 Ret DNS 8 C 9 37 14 Emanuele Olivieri 7 Ret 3 7 C 8 31 15 Miguel Costa 10 2 Ret 16 7 10 22 15 14 17 C 10 27 16 Zhenrui Chi 17 9 7 21 13 23 8 6 27 25 C 19 20 17 Artem Severiukhin 13 16 9 5 27 9 28 22 18 12 C Ret 14 18 Francisco Macedo 16 7 22 9 12 22 13 25† 8 21 C 14 12 19 Jules Roussel 26 18 19 18 10 16 17 14 7 16 C 15 7 20 Maxim Rehm 9 27 Ret 27 16 17 18 8 27 Ret C DNS 6 21 Andrija Kostić 12 Ret 8 DSQ 20 20 21 20 13 19 C 21 4 22 Reza Seewooruthun 11 Ret DNS 29† 9 21 Ret Ret 15 24 C 23 2 23 Andrea Dupé 20 11 23 15 26 15 14 10 11 13 C 20 1 24 Dion Gowda 23 12 11 22 17 Ret 15 DNS 10 23 C 17 1 25 Gerrard Xie 21 10 12 13 19 19 1 26 Jesse Carrasquedo Jr. Ret 19 12 11 C DSQ 0 27 Enea Frey 27 20 Ret 23 29† 28 23 12 22 22 C Ret 0 28 Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak 28 C 12 0 29 Reno Francot 20 13 29† 14 C 22 0 30 Matteo Giaccardi 29 24 21 26 14 25 27 Ret 25 27 C 13 0 31 Yuhao Fu 30 22 15 28 18 26 24 16 24 31 C 26 0 32 Giovanni Maschio 25 15 Ret 19 23 24 Ret 24 21 30 C 24 0 33 Kai Daryanani 19 17 24† 25 25 18 19 18 17 18 C 16 0 34 Alceu Feldmann Neto 32 25 16 Ret Ret 29 25 23 Ret 29 C Ret 0 35 Michael Belov 18 Ret DNS 0 36 August Raber 28 19 Ret 20 24 27 26 21 19 20 C 25 0 Pos Driver R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 Pts YMC1 YMC2 DUB LUS

Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Points classification Blue Non-points classification Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired, not classified (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Withdrew (WD) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Did not arrive (DNA) Excluded (EX) Bold – Pole Italics – Fastest Lap † – Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as they completed more than 75% of the race distance.

Rookie Cup

Pos	Driver	YMC1			YMC2			DUB			LUS			Pts
		R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3
1	Kean Nakamura-Berta	2	Ret	3	1	4	1	1	Ret	1	1	C	1	195
2	Maximilian Popov	1	3	4	6	2	Ret	2	3	14	7	C	9	119
3	Jan Przyrowski	8	14	7	7	1	8	4	2	3	3	C	5	115
4	Alex Powell	3	12	1	2	16	4	6	Ret	DNS	4	C	3	105
5	Kabir Anurag	11	5	2	4	5	3	8	5	12	5	C	4	101
6	Sebastian Wheldon	17	10	8	5	3	2	Ret	12	6	2	C	2	92
7	Salim Hanna	9	2	11	13	12	7	5	1	4	8	C	6	85
8	Miguel Costa	5	1	Ret	9	6	6	13	10	9	13	C	8	60
9	Artem Severiukhin	7	6	6	3	15	5	18	15	10	9	C	Ret	50
10	Emanuele Olivieri							3	Ret	2	6	C	7	47
11	Andrea Dupé	10	4	13	8	14	9	7	6	11	10	C	12	34
12	Jules Roussel	12	7	10	10	7	10	9	9	5	12	C	11	29
13	Maxim Rehm	4	15	Ret	15	9	11	10	4	17	Ret	C	DNS	27
14	Andrija Kostić	6	Ret	5	DSQ	11	12	12	13	8	14	C	13	22
15	Enea Frey	13	9	Ret	12	17†	16	14	7	7	16	C	Ret	14
16	Matteo Giaccardi	15	13	12	14	8	13	17	Ret	16	17	C	10	5
17	August Raber	14	8	Ret	11	13	15	16	14	11	15	C	15	4
18	Reno Francot							11	8	18†	11	C	14	4
19	Yuhao Fu	16	11	9	16	10	14	15	11	15	18	C	16	3
Pos	Driver	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	Pts
		YMC1			YMC2			DUB			LUS

Teams' Championship

Ahead of each event, teams nominated two drivers who accumulated Teams' Championship points.

Pos	Team	No.	YMC1			YMC2			DUB			LUS			Pts
			R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3
1	Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited	51	4	Ret	5	2	5	2	3	Ret	2	1	C	1	222
		98	31	21	14	7	4	3	Ret	17	9	2	C	2
2	R-ace GP	12	24	13	10	4	8	7							199
		71	2	5	1	1	15	1	4	5	16	6	C	7
		73							7	Ret	3	7	C	8
3	MP Motorsport	15	1	6	17	10	Ret	4	2	7	1	26	C	Ret	139
		16	8	1	3	17	22	11	Ret	19	12	11	C	DSQ
4	ART Grand Prix	7										28	C	12	111
		19	22	14	4	6	6	5	16	9	20	5	C	4
		89	5	Ret	DNS	14	11	8	1	11	5
5	RPM	5	10	2	Ret	16	7	10	22	15	14	17	C	10	98
		8	14	26	13	11	2	14	10	3	4	3	C	5
6	Pinnacle Motorsport	29	28	19	Ret	20	24	27	26	21	19	20	C	25	76
		41	6	23	2	3	28	6	12	Ret	DNS	4	C	3
7	Trident	3	3	8	6	8	3	Ret	5	4	23	9	C	11	74
		47	12	Ret	8	DSQ	20	20	21	20	13
		87										18	C	16
8	Rodin Motorsport	2	7	3	18	12	1	13	9	2	26	15	C	18	68
		4	11	Ret	DNS	29†	9	21	Ret	Ret	15	24	C	23
9	G4 Racing	14	13	16	9	5	27	9	28	22	18	12	C	Ret	21
		24				18	10	16	17	14	7	16	C	15
		67	20	11	23
10	CL Motorsport	6				23	29†	28							20
		28	17	9	7	21	13	23	8	6	27	25	C	19
		57	18	Ret	DNS
		69							20	13	29†	14	C	22
11	Van Amersfoort Racing	11	16	7	22	9	12	22	13	25†	8	21	C	14	13
		55	23	12	11	22	17	Ret	15	DNS	10	23	C	17
Pos	Team	No.	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	Pts
			YMC1			YMC2			DUB			LUS

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