Zachary 'Zach' David certainly saved his best performance for last during the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Championship certified by FIA (FRMEC) season finale over the weekend. The Malta-licensed Filipino driver went on to deliver 2nd place and two more point-scoring finishes at the Dubai Autodrome to conclude the championship 4th Overall.
Maintaining his strong momentum from Yas Marina where he scored two podiums, David was on pace straightaway during Testing and Free Practice. This translated well into Qualifying where he ended the two sessions in P4 and P6, respectively giving him a good shot at a strong result.
Lining up on the second row of the grid, David slingshotted off the line in Race 1 and immediately made his move to nab P2 on the run to the first corner. He then slotted behind teammate Tuukka Taponen and gave chase for 16 laps. The pair would open up a sizable gap to the rest of the field to eventually cross the finish line in formation, giving his team a 1-2 finish and earning David his second P2 finish in FRMEC. This result also helped R-ace GP lock in the Team Championship with two more races to go.
A reverse grid for Race 2 placed David in P9. Unfortunately, it was not the best start but David managed to hold position on the opening lap before the Safety Car was called out. David went on attack mode after the restart and found his way up several places in the chaos. As several cars tangled, the lone Filipino driver on the grid concluded the race in a strong 6th.
