UAE’s Rashid Al Dhaheri makes Formula Regional history with home victory

Emirati racer Rashid Al Dhaheri made history at Yas Marina Circuit by becoming the first driver from the Middle East and North Africa to win a Formula Regional race, sealing a landmark victory in the opening round of the 2026 Formula Regional Middle East Trophy, WAM reported.

The season opener brought together a competitive grid of 32 drivers from 11 teams, competing under the sanction of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The weekend also marked the competitive debut of the new Tatuus T-326 Formula Regional car, a major technical step forward for the series. The updated chassis features refined aerodynamics, improved handling, Pirelli tyres and a Toyota-powered 1.6-litre engine, raising both performance levels and technical demands.

Teams spent two days of practice acclimatizing to the new machinery, with Al Dhaheri quickly establishing himself as a frontrunner. He ended Friday’s afternoon session second fastest, signaling strong pace heading into qualifying.

That momentum carried into Saturday, where he narrowly missed pole position in the first qualifying session by just one thousandth of a second. He rebounded later in the day by securing pole in the second session — his first of the 2026 season.

Al Dhaheri converted his strong grid positions into consistent results across the weekend. He finished second in Saturday’s opening race, maintaining pressure at the front of the field. Sunday’s second race, run under a reverse-grid format for the top 12 qualifiers, saw him climb from 11th to fifth, adding valuable points to his championship tally.

The defining moment came in Race Three. Starting from pole — a first for a MENA driver in Formula Regional competition — Al Dhaheri controlled the race to take a decisive victory, drawing loud celebrations from home supporters, sponsors and family members in attendance. He celebrated the win with his French-based team, R-ace GP.

Reflecting on the achievement, Al Dhaheri said the victory carried special significance given the venue and support behind him. “Winning at Yas Marina, where my journey began, in front of my family and home fans, is incredibly emotional,” he said. “The work we put in over the winter paid off, and I’m grateful to my team, partners and family for their belief and support.”

The championship resumes with Round Two at Yas Marina Circuit from January 23 to 25, 2026. The series then moves to Dubai Autodrome from January 30 to February 1, before concluding at Lusail International Circuit in Qatar from February 11 to 13.