Fresh from an impressive opening round of the FIA Formula Regional European Championship at the Red Bull Ring - highlighted by victory in the final race - we caught up with CL Motorsport driver Reno Francot.
The 18-year-old from Echt, located less than 100 kilometres from Spa-Francorchamps, added another podium finish at his home event in Zandvoort and currently sits second in the Drivers’ standings, 12 points adrift of championship leader Sebastian Wheldon.
Surprisingly, I’d never actually been to Zandvoort before. So it was my first time here, even though it’s in my home country. It was a really special feeling seeing so many Dutch fans in the grandstands. Of course, they’re not only supporting me, but it’s still nice to feel that support around you.
CL Motorsport has rapidly emerged as one of the championship’s standout stories. Under the leadership of David Lee, the young outfit has made remarkable progress in a short space of time, something you are clearly proud to be part of.
It’s honestly a privilege. I’m really happy and thankful they gave me the opportunity to be here. In the end, the results are showing what we can achieve together. I think we can keep building from here. Hopefully, in the coming years, they can establish themselves as one of the top teams on the grid - that’s the goal for everyone.
You are also among the drivers adapting to a new era for the championship, with the introduction of the Tatuus T-326 chassis and the innovative Race Mode system for 2026.
Of course, everything is new for everyone, so it’s all about who adapts the quickest. After the opening round, I suppose I can say I adapted pretty well. The new Race Mode is a big improvement compared to last year because now you can really play with the strategy. You have 100 seconds to use around the lap, which creates much better racing. We already saw that at the Red Bull Ring, there was overtaking and action almost every lap. From a driver’s perspective, it’s really exciting because you never get into the car thinking the race will be straightforward or boring. You always know there will be battles, overtakes and opportunities.
With the season still in its early stages, you remain cautious about predicting how the title fight will unfold, despite your strong start to the campaign.
For me, it’s still completely open. Every driver on this grid is a rival - that’s how I see it. My focus is simply on doing my best and trying to beat all of them.
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