Alexander Abkhazava is the first driver to be part of MP Motorsport’s three-car line-up in the revamped FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC). As the Dutch team returns to the series, the 19-year-old Kazakh aims to build to on his highly promising pre-season form in the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy (FRME).

Abkhazava joined MP in 2025, racking up two Eurocup-3 podiums at Portimão and Assen to contribute to an extremely successful season in the series for the Dutch team. Remaining with MP, Abkhazava then moved up to the team’s new FREC operations to debut Formula Regional’s new Toyota-engined Tatuus F3-T326 in the FRME winter series in the Emirates and Bahrain. The Kazakh made the best possible start in the series opener at Yas Marina by converting pole into an emphatic win, before adding a second win and a podium to his tally at Dubai, on his way to third in the final standings. He will now work to transfer his early Formula Regional pace to the all-new FIA-backed European Championship, which kicks off at the Red Bull Ring on 25-26 April.

“I’m extremely pleased to be staying with MP Motorsport for my first season in the prestigious FIA Formula Regional European Championship”, said Abkhazava. “Our form in the Middle East Trophy has been encouraging to say the least, which further justifies my decision to stick with MP. We’ve really gelled well over the past year, and we’ve gone on to grow an even better mutual understanding during the winter months. I’m ready to score more points and go for more wins in FREC!”

“We are very happy to retain Alex for our return to Formula Regional”, said Sander Dorsman, MP Motorsport’s team principal. “He has been an incredible team player in Eurocup-3 last year, and proved his ultimate pace in the new Formula Regional car during our competitive first steps in FRME over the winter. It’s testimony to the way we work with our drivers that they are eager to remain part of the team as they progress through the single-seater ranks – and I’m delighted to see that it is no different with Alex.”

2026 will be Abkhazava’s fourth season in single-seaters, the young Kazakh having made his motorsport debut in the 2023 UAE F4 Championship and the F4 Spanish Championship before competing in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship and the Eurocup-3 in 2024 and 2025. Prior to his promotion to single-seaters, Abkhazava enjoyed a successful run in a string of international Rotax Max karting championships.