Marlon Bayer secured his second victory in the 2026 Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship on Wednesday, taking Race 1 of Round 2 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The Austrian driver, representing Wrap & Fly, finished ahead of Saudi racer Abdullah Kamel, who delivered the strongest result by a Saudi driver in the championship so far.
The opening race of the second round featured 15 competitors from eight teams and produced a closely contested battle at the front. Bayer quickly established himself as the race leader, while Kamel moved into second and remained within striking distance throughout the contest.
Kamel continued to pressure Bayer as the race developed, but two safety car periods disrupted the momentum and reduced the opportunities for the Saudi driver to launch further attacks. Bayer maintained his position through the interruptions and ultimately secured the win.
The Austrian crossed the finish line in 1:55.307, with Kamel just 0.692 seconds behind. Archie Owen of 7.23 Racing completed the podium, finishing 0.958 seconds behind Bayer.
Kamel’s runner-up finish marked an important result for Saudi motorsport. Driving for iCONNA by Aramco Digital, he became the highest-placed Saudi competitor recorded in the championship to date.
The race also produced mixed fortunes for other competitors. Saudi driver Faris Organji was involved in an incident that ended his challenge, while Rachel Robertson emerged as the leading female driver in the race after securing 10th place.
The remaining positions inside the top 10 went to Amin Kara Osman of Germany in fourth, followed by American driver Devin Walz in fifth. UAE racer Zakaria Doleh finished sixth, while Lebanon’s Georges Nassar took seventh. India’s Veer Chopra crossed the line eighth for Zahid Group, Jordanian driver Hamza Alfayez finished ninth, and Robertson completed the top 10.
The Round 2 programme began earlier Wednesday under the organisation of ALTAWKILAT Motorsport and the sporting supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation. The championship is FIA-certified, adding an international regulatory framework to the series.
Qualifying had already provided a competitive indication ahead of Race 1. Isaac Seah posted the fastest time in Qualifying 1, finishing 0.556 seconds ahead of Bayer. Kamel was third fastest, with Kara Osman fourth and Owen fifth.
The day’s schedule also included two sessions of the Ladies Cup, held at 3:00pm and 5:30pm, respectively.
Round 2 continues Thursday, October 8, with Free Practice 2 scheduled for 2:00pm and Qualifying 2 at 4:50pm. The decisive Race 2 is set for 8:45pm, with the podium ceremony scheduled for 9:25pm.
Thursday’s programme will also include the Motor Mania Track Challenge, with sessions planned for 3:00pm and 6:00pm.
With Bayer already adding another victory to his 2026 campaign and Kamel setting a new benchmark for Saudi drivers, the final race of the Jeddah round will provide another opportunity for the championship field to challenge the Austrian at the front.
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