Zachary 'Zach' David enjoyed an impressive start to his 2024 motorsport campaign over the weekend. Debuting in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship certified by FIA (FRMEC), the Malta-licensed Filipino driver went on to deliver a podium and two point-scoring finishes during the season opener at Yas Marina Circuit.
David was able to quickly get on pace after only a few test sessions and ended Friday well-within the Top 10. Driving the #20 R-ace GP entry, he then set the 7th fastest time amongst 29 drivers in Qualifying which gave him a strong starting position for Race 1 on Saturday.
The 16-year-old officially marked his race debut in Formula Regional as he lined up on the 4th row of the grid. After making a clean getaway at the start, he later found himself behind Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak whom he began to reel in by the race's halfway point. His attempts to pass the Thai driver, however, proved to be unsuccessful. In the end, David managed to secure a solid 8th place when the chequered flag dropped and finish 3rd in the Rookie Cup.
A reversed-grid in Race 2 start saw David start from P3 on Sunday, giving him a clear shot at a podium finish. He immediately challenged for position in the opening stages and successfully passed Alexander Abkhazava on lap 3. Although his charge to the front was momentarily cut short due to a Safety Car period, it allowed him to close in on Arvid Lindblad who was in the lead. David kept the Red Bull Junior driver within his sights at the restart and began to chip away at his lead bit by bit. He later closed the gap to 0.879 secs to Lindblad at the finish line to land on the podium in an impressive 2nd place.
