Driving a second-generation Tatuus T-326 for Prema Racing, the British driver clocked a best time of 1m25.765s to secure top spot for Race 1.

Nakamura-Berta was one of 15 drivers assigned to Group A, the first group to take to the 4.326-kilometre Red Bull Ring. In warm and sunny conditions, he went 0.262s quicker than Rodin Motorsport’s Australian driver Alex Ninovic with Italian Emanuele Olivieri third fastest in Group A for R-ace GP.

However, FIA Formula Regional European Championship rules stipulate that the fastest driver in Group B is awarded second place on the Race 1 grid with that honour going to UAE’s Rashid Al Dhaheri (R-ace GP), who went quickest out of the second group of 15 drivers.

American Sebastian Wheldon, second best in Group B for MP Motorsport, is set to start Race 1 in fourth position alongside Ninovic, with Olivieri due to share row three with CL Motorsport’s Dutchman Reno Francot, third fastest in Group B.

Eighteen-year-old Nakamura-Berta has graduated from Formula 4 to Formula Regional for 2026, the latest example of a driver stepping up through the FIA Single-Seater Pyramid.

“It’s definitely the most competitive championship at this level between Formula 4 and Formula 3,” said Nakamura-Berta, who won the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy Certified by FIA earlier this season. “We get to race on incredible circuits and Formula Regional has always been the pathway to Formula 3. It’s where most junior drivers go to in their career and it was the obvious choice from Formula 4.”

This weekend marks an exciting new chapter in international junior single-seater racing with the advent of the FIA Formula Regional European Championship.

Taking over from the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), the FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FIA FREC) enjoys the full support of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide.

Organised and promoted by FIA Member Club Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI), the inaugural FIA FREC schedule covers eight weekends from April to September with five FIA Formula One World Championship venues included.

Positioned one step above Formula 4 in the FIA Single-Seater Pyramid, FIA FREC caters exclusively for the second-generation Formula Regional Tatuus T-326. All-new for 2026, the car has been developed by the Italian constructor in partnership with the FIA and follows the aerodynamic philosophy deployed in Formula 1 to encourage closer racing. Its design also represents another step in terms of performance and safety, while the drivers will further benefit from the push-to-pass Race Mode system.

Race 1 is due to begin at 10:25 local time tomorrow (Saturday) with the reverse-grid Race 2 set to get under way at 16:40. Race 3 is scheduled for 16:40 on Sunday following Qualifying 2 from 08:45. All races and qualifying sessions are live on YouTube.

Click HERE for provisional results.