Giti Tire returned with an action-packed Formula Regional Asian Championship (FRAC) certified by the FIA with an impressive 28 cars for the opening round of the 2022 season at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi from 21-23 January 2022.
Organizers of this racing season have been impressed that the UAE venues have been able to host the international sporting events despite the toughest travel and event conditions due to Covid-19. This is reflected in the organization of a highly successful Expo 2020 and full compliance with the strict SOPs issued by the UAE Government. Additionally, the racing series is the first single-seater event in the UAE since the historic finale of the 2021 Formula One season at Yas Marina.
A special feature of this year’s FRAC is that the Emirati racing driver family of Khaled Al-Qubaisi with the daughters Amna Al-Qubaisi and Hamda Al-Qubaisi are all taking part in the Formula Regional Asian Championship season together. The series was renamed from F3 Asian Championship Certified By FIA this year. Giti Tire is a major sponsor and full-service provider of tires for the 2022 season from January to February 2022. The first round of 1-3 races was held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The entry features drivers from 15 nations competing with eight of the world’s top junior single-seater teams, including four F1 Junior Academy talents.
Reigning champions Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema, who won the title last year with newly signed Alfa Romeo F1 driver Zhou Guanyu, will field five cars. Red Bull Junior Team member, 16-year-old American Jak Crawford, is making his FRAC debut with the team following his debut season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship last year. He will be joined by Mercedes Junior Team Este Paul Aron, 17, and three members of the pioneering Emirati racing family Al Qubaisi; Father Khaled and daughters Hamda and Amna.
A four-car start for the season-opening two-time team champion Hitech Grand Prix will be led by Red Bull Junior Team driver and 2021 Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) Rookie Champion Isack Hadjar.
Hong Kong SAR-based company BlackArts Racing, who claimed a clean win in the Drivers, Team and Masters titles in 2020, return with 20-year-old Luxembourger Brice Morabito after contesting the 2020 Austrian F3 Cup.
Mumbai Falcons India Racing, who made their series debut last season, are back with a trio of strong title contenders. Ferrari Driver Academy member Dino Beganovic took four podiums in the nine FRAC races he competed in last year and this time returns for a full season to win the title.
In the Giti Tire-backed season, Turkish talent Cem Bolukbasi returns, this time with Australia-based Evans GP.
The Evans GP Academy two-car entry, meanwhile, features Hungary’s Levente Révész making his single-seater debut and American David Morales racing in the Middle East for the first time in his career.
Pinnacle Motorsport, who finished second to Pierre-Louis Chovet in 2021, returns with a four-car entry led by the exciting 17-year-old Dutchman, Dilano van’t Hoff.
Coming to the championship for the first time in 2022, French team 3Y by R-ace GP can boast a strong driver line-up.
