by Alex Johnston
The 'Formula Regional Middle Eastern Championship', or FRMEC series gets under way this weekend with a number of familiar names taking part including F1 juniors, F3 stars and more. Which 5 stand out for me?
Taylor Barnard
Newly announced McLaren Formula E reserve and likely 2024 FIA Formula 3 PHM Racing driver Taylor Barnard is back for more with FRMEC after losing out on the title to Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the 2023 edition.
The British driver spent last season with Jenzer Motorsport in F3, ending the season 10th overall and is currently expected to go back again this year with PHM - with whom he'll be with for FRMEC - and charge for the title. He's immediately a favourite for the FRMEC title honours, given how close he got last year.
Martinius Stenshorne
Another driver who missed out on a title to Antonelli in 2023 was Norwegian driver Martinius Stenshorne, who was pipped to the FRECA title by the quick young Italian.
Stenshorne was debuting in the FRECA car and put in stellar performances for R-ace GP and with performances as such, he's stepping up to Formula 3 with Hitech this year. First things first though, FRMEC is calling where he'll expect to win races with R-ace GP.
Tuukka Taponen
Ferrari Driver Academy star Taponen is the next driver in a long and illustrious line of 'Flying Finns' hoping to reach F1 and follow in the footsteps of names like Mika Hakkinen, Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.
This particular Flying Finn is stepping into Formula Regional cars after a season in F4 where he finished second in F4 UAE, and fifth in Italian F4 and the Euro F4 Championship. Across the season he mustered up five wins and 19 podiums. Racing with R-ace he'll hope to take like a duck to water in the Formula Regional cars and fight for the top 3 steps.
Mari Boya
Mari Boya's name will be pretty familiar to fans of lower formula having featured in Formula 3 in 2023 for MP Motorsport. He showed flashes of the true speed he has but was only able to obtain a single podium and end the season an unremarkable 17th.
He'll be joining Campos for another season in F3 and hope to continue there as compatriot Pepe Marti left off. He'll be with Pinnacle Motorsport where he'll hope to be right at the front and will very much be the team leader.
Arvid Lindblad
Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad spent 2023 in F4 UAE, Italian F4 and Euro F4 as he made his full season debut in single seaters, winning both F4 races in Macau as well.
His performances were strong enough for Red Bull and PREMA to place him in Formula 3 this year where he'll hope to develop quickly next to his more experienced teammates. For FRMEC, he'll be with the Mumbai Falcons team who have had a driver win the last two championships(one as F3 Asian).
📸 Image credits: Formula Regional Middle Eastern Championship, NEOM McLaren FE, Arvid Lindblad, Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, Formula Motorsport Limited.
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