Giti Tire returns with action-packed 2022 Formula Regional Asian Championship in UAE

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Giti Tire returned with an action-packed Formula Regional Asian Championship (FRAC) certified by FIA with an impressive 28-car entry for the opening round of the 2022 season at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit held on Jan.21-23, 2022.

The organisers of this racing season were impressed that despite the toughest travel and events conditions due to Covid-19, UAE venues were capable of hosting the international sporting events. It reflects in organizing an extremely successful Expo 2020 Dubai and fully adhering to the strict health and safety protocols laid down by the UAE government.

In addition, the race series is notable as the first formula event in the UAE since the historic finale of the 2021 Formula 1 season at Yas Marina.

A special feature of this year’s FRAC was the Emirati racing family of Khaled Al Qubaisi with daughters Amna Al Qubaisi and Hamda Al Qubaisi all taking part together in the Formula Regional Asian Championship season.

The series this year has been rebranded from ‘F3 Asian Championship’ Certified By FIA. Giti Tire is a key sponsor and full tire provider for the 2022 season from January-February 2022.

The first round of 1-3 races took place at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit.

The entry includes drivers representing 15 nations competing with eight of the world’s premier junior single seater teams, among them four F1 junior academy talents.

Reigning champions Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema, which won the title last year with newly-signed Alfa Romeo F1 driver Zhou Guanyu, entered five cars. Red Bull Junior Team member, 16-year-old American Jak Crawford, makes his FRAC debut with the team following his debut season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship last year.

Joining him is Mercedes Junior Team Estonian Paul Aron, 17, and three members of the pioneering Emirati racing family of  Qubaisi; father Khaled and daughters Hamda and Amna.

A four-car entry for the season start from two-time team champions Hitech Grand Prix is headed by Red Bull Junior Team driver and 2021 Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) Rookie champion Isack Hadjar.

Hong Kong SAR-based BlackArts Racing, which took a clean-sweep of Driver, Team and Masters titles in 2020, returns with 20-year-old Luxembourger Brice Morabito, back on track after contesting the Austrian F3 Cup in 2020.

Mumbai Falcons India Racing, who made their series debut last season, is back with a trio of strong title contenders.

Ferrari Driver Academy member Dino Beganovic took four podiums in the nine FRAC races he contested last year, and returns for a full season tilt at the title this time around.

The season, supported by Giti Tire, sees the return of Turkish talent Cem Bolukbasi, this time with Australian-based Evans GP.

The two-car Evans GP Academy entry, meanwhile, features Hungarian Levente Revesz, making his single seater debut, and American David Morales, racing in the Middle East for the first time in his career.

Pinnacle Motorsport, with whom Pierre-Louis Chovet finished runner-up in 2021, returns with a four-car entry headed by exciting 17-year-old Dutchman Dilano van’t Hoff.

French team 3Y by R-ace GP joins the championship for the first time in 2022, and boasts a strong driver line-up.