Amna Al Qubaisi to make FRECA debut with Prema

Emirati driver Amna Al Qubaisi will contest the final two rounds of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in place of her sister Hamda.

Photo credits: Prema

Amna Al Qubaisi, 22, is set to make her first appearance in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine this weekend in Barcelona, as the first ever Emirati female racing driver takes over the #88 Prema Racing Tatuus T-318 that was driven by her sister Hamda in the previous 8 rounds.

Amna last raced in F3 regional machinery last winter, when she made her debut in Formula Regional Asian Championship for Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema, claiming a remarkable point-scoring finish at her home round at Yas Marina Circuit.

In one of the most competitive fields to date in the Asian-based series, Amna delivered strong results and will now be back in Europe after contesting two Italian F4 campaigns in 2018 and 2019 - also with the Italian powerhouse team.

Al Qubaisi famously won the F4 Trophy round at Abu Dhabi, support series race to the 2019 F1 season finale - but the Covid pandemic has since then slowed down her racing activities.

Her sister Hamda made her debut in the 2019 Red Bull Ring round of Italian F4, before competing full time in the series until 2021 - where she became the first woman to step on the overall podium. She would then score 6 wins in the F4 UAE championship as well.

In her first season in the uber-competitive FRECA, Hamda has significantly improved throughout the season, claiming her personal best results in the second half of the season.

As announced by the team, Amna will now get behind the wheel of the #88 machine for the Barcelona and Mugello rounds.

Amna Al Qubaisi had made her racing return last week, as she entered her first race in LMP3 machinery at Hockenheimring, where she finished fourth overall and second in class in the German STT series.

"We look forward to welcoming Amna Al Qubaisi back after lining her up in Formula 4 and FRAC in the past, and achieving positive results together." - commented Rene Rosin, Prema Team Principal.

The Barcelona weekend will start with collective testing getting underway on Friday 14th October at 09:00 local time, followed by a second session at 14:22. The first qualifying session will start at 09:00 on Saturday morning - with cars divided in two groups; Race 1 is scheduled for Saturday at 13:05. On Sunday, Qualifying 2 will start at 09:40, while the second race will go green at 16:25.