UIM F2 Grand Prix of Portugal I – Free Practice Report: Sunday Morning, Peso da Régua

Peso da Régua, Portugal – September 14, 2025

The UIM F2 World Championship heads into the penultimate round of the 2025 season on the stunning Douro River circuit in Peso da Régua, where the tight turns and flowing waters of this Portuguese gem promise another thrilling spectacle. With the championship battle heating up after two rounds in Brindisi and Klaipėda, today’s free practice session set the tone for the afternoon’s Grand Prix race. Peter Morin leads the standings on 30 points ahead of Hilmer Wiberg (24), with Matthew Palfreyman and Mathilda Wiberg tied on 22. Following yesterday’s qualifying results, drivers fine-tuned their setups under clear skies, though not without some drama.

Lithuanian ace Edgaras Riabko stole the show in the 45-minute session, clocking a blistering best lap of 41.675 seconds to top the timesheets. Riabko, starting the weekend outside the top eight in the championship on just 9 points, explained the breakthrough: his radio man, Karolis Ramoska, revealed that a late-night strategy session led to a revamped approach to the course, including altered racing lines to exploit the river’s currents more effectively. This paid dividends, as Riabko completed 27 laps and looked composed throughout.

British driver Matthew Palfreyman, who suffered an accident in qualifying yesterday, shrugged off any lingering concerns to post the second-fastest time of 42.279 – briefly leading the session before Riabko’s late charge. Palfreyman, third in the championship, racked up 29 laps for a total time of 36:14.871, showing his boat was back in fighting shape.

Local hero Duarte Benavente impressed in third with a 42.569, though his session was shorter at just 10 laps (total 10:25.246). Giacomo Sacchi (MON) and Hilmer Wiberg (SWE, second in points) were inseparable in fourth and fifth, both within a second of Riabko’s benchmark.

Notable absentees and issues marred the session for some frontrunners. Championship contender Mathilda Wiberg (SWE, tied for third) opted to sit out entirely, prioritising a clean start in the race this afternoon over risking any pre-race tweaks – her team confirmed it’s all about conserving energy for the 45-lap showdown. Meanwhile, Norwegian André Solvang struggled with engine troubles, failing to register a competitive lap after throttle issues sidelined him early; he ended the session unclassified after limited running.

Rashed Al Qemzi (UAE, absent from the top 10 here but a past champion) managed seventh with a 42.900, but his brief 7-lap stint suggests setup work is ongoing. Further back, Stefan Arand (EST, fifth in standings) and Nelson Morin (FRA, brother of leader Peter) showed solid pace in ninth and sixth, respectively.

The session highlighted the competitiveness on this 1685 m circuit, with the top 10 covered by just over two seconds. As teams head into the 15:45 race start, expect Riabko’s momentum to challenge the established order, while leaders like Morin (eighth today) and Wiberg will aim to consolidate their positions.

Free Practice Results

Pos	Num	Name	Nat	Gap	Best Lap	At	Last Lap	Laps	Total Time
1	41	Edgaras Riabko	LTU	–	41.675	27	41.675	27	34:33.703
2	14	Matthew Palfreyman	GBR	+0.604	42.279	21	48.655	29	36:14.871
3	45	Duarte Benavente	POR	+0.894	42.569	1	42.621	10	10:25.246
4	74	Giacomo Sacchi	ITA	+0.936	42.611	14	43.656	15	41:34.586
5	70	Hilmer Wiberg	SWE	+0.949	42.624	20	42.624	20	30:00.321
6	33	Nelson Morin	FRA	+1.022	42.697	20	44.399	26	37:27.958
7	1	Rashed Al Qemzi	UAE	+1.225	42.900	7	42.900	7	17:44.896
8	11	Peter Morin	FRA	+1.293	42.968	13	43.400	27	45:36.601
9	18	Stefan Arand	EST	+1.461	43.136	14	1:20.921	23	39:56.170
10	25	Tino Lehto	FIN	+2.112	43.787	35	43.787	35	41:30.354
11	96	Roope Virtanen	FIN	+2.141	43.816	23	43.816	23	35:57.304
12	3	Owen Jelf	GBR	+2.316	43.991	28	43.991	28	41:57.210
13	36	Salem Al Yafei	UAE	+2.352	44.027	27	46.124	35	44:24.829
14	9	Mette Bjerknæs	NOR	+2.600	44.275	3	45.759	9	11:38.934
15	2	Johan Österberg	SWE	+3.340	45.015	16	1:32.734	30	33:40.355
16	77	Tobias Munthe-Kaas	NOR	+3.928	45.603	10	47.785	15	45:28.891
17	29	Egidijus Dagilis	LTU	+6.285	47.960	3	48.612	6	7:21.223
18	7	Mathilda Wiberg	SWE	+1:01.900	1:43.575	3	1:43.575	3	6:39.183
19	27	André Solvang	NOR	–	–	–	–	–	–