Round four of the Formula Regional European Championship was held over the weekend in Budapest, Hungary at the Hungaroring track.

Whilst the weekend remained dry, both races were interrupted by safety cars, but Kato’s weekend was one of steady progression day-by-day around the 4.3km circuit.

In the first collective test, Taito Kato, Honda Formula Dream Project driver for ART Grand Prix, recorded the 17^th fastest time, climbing to 12^th fastest by the second collective test.

In Qualifying Group A, when the field is split into groups A and B, Kato recorded the 7^th fastest time in Quali 1 and 8^th fastest in Quali 2, putting him 14^th on the grid for the opening race.

Race one was a relatively processional affair for Kato who held steady in 14^th for much of the race. A late safety car in the closing laps bunched the field and allowed Kato the opportunity to gain a position to cross the line in 13^th, with a promotion to 12^th with a post-race Stewards’ decision.

Kato lined up 15^th for the weekend’s second race, in which conditions saw a track temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, rather than the race one track peak of 54 degrees Celsius.

Kato started the race well and maintained position until a safety car came out after just 12 minutes and bunched the field. After that, Kato’s charged really got started and he made great progress in the latter half of the race. Fighting hard through the pack, he steadily made progress to climb to tenth and into the championship points-paying positions, claiming one point to round out his weekend.

The FRECA series continues in France in two weekend’s time, on 19-20 July at Circuit Paul Ricard.

Ⓒ ACI Sport