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Fourteen drivers lined up last weekend in Vila Velha de Ródão,
Portugal, for the fifth and final round of the 2026 UIM Circuit F2 World
Championship. Among them, six were still mathematically in contention for the
World Championship title, setting the scene for a highly suspenseful season
finale.
Just as in the fourth round the previous weekend in Peso da Régua,
qualification was dominated by Frenchman Nelson Morin, who was already out of
contention for the Championship title but continued to show great speed towards
the end of the season. Setting the fastest time in the third qualification
session, Morin qualified on pole ahead of another driver with no hopes of
winning the Championship, Monegasque-licensed Giacomo Sacchi.
Swede Hilmer Wiberg, fourth in the Championship standings before the
final race, posted the third-fastest time and earned the right to start
Sunday’s race ahead of all his Championship rivals: Lithuanian Edgaras Riabko
qualified fifth, Swede Mathilda Wiberg sixth, Norwegian Tobias Munthe-Kaas
seventh, British driver Ian Blacker ninth and Frenchman Peter Morin 12th.
Everything was set for the title to be decided, with suspense at its
highest when the lights went out for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Nelson Morin took
advantage of his pole position and inside lane to lead out of the first turn,
while Hilmer Wiberg moved up to second in the opening stages and began piling
the pressure on Morin. A furious battle continued for much of the race, with
Wiberg often just one second behind the leader.
Having led from start to finish, Nelson Morin took the chequered
flag after 38 laps, winning an F2 World Championship race for the first time.
Mathilda Wiberg, who had overtaken her brother Hilmer, finished second, with
Hilmer Wiberg third.
With several position changes in the closing laps, the battle for
the World Championship title was more uncertain than ever. Edgaras Riabko
eventually emerged as the 2026 UIM Circuit F2 World Champion after finishing
fourth in Vila Velha de Ródão, becoming the first Lithuanian driver to win the
title.
The top three finishers in the race and in the overall Championship
standings were presented with their trophies and medals at Sunday’s closing
ceremony, marking the end of an event once again attended by a large number of
spectators.
Photos: F2 Powerboat World, Município
de Vila Velha de Ródão
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