Formula Regional

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Formula Regional "FR" logo Formula Regional European 02.svg
Formula Regional "FR" logo

Formula Regional (FR) is an FIA-approved moniker for certified regional one-make Formula Three championships with the concept being approved during the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in December 2017. [1] The first series under new regulations were launched in Asia and North America in 2018, followed by European counterpart in 2019 and Japanese in 2020. [2] [3] [4] [5] On 13 December 2022, the Toyota Racing Series was rebranded as the Formula Regional Oceania Championship. [6]

Contents

This step of the FIA Global Pathway ladder serves to close the performance gap between Formula 4 (160 bhp) and global Formula 3 Championship (380 bhp), being powered by 270 bhp engines. [2] [7]

Name

Created under the name Regional Formula 3 by the FIA within the Article 275 / Appendix J of the international sporting code, [8] the category had, at its beginning few championships having the F3 mention in their official title.

All of the category's championships certified by FIA got gradually rebranded by its commercial moniker "Formula Regional" in order to avoid confusion with previous Formula 3 regulations (pre-2018) and with the "International" Formula 3 (the FIA Formula 3 Championship and FIA Formula 3 World Cup). The category itself is set to be renamed as Formula Regional in the upcoming 2024 technical regulations. [9]

Performance

Formula Regional cars were intended to represent a midpoint in performance between Formula 4 and FIA Formula 3 cars.

According to drivers who have driven in both series, Formula Regional cars are of similar weight to FIA Formula 3, but have much less downforce as well as less power. [10]

As a basis for comparison, at the 2024 Formula Regional race at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, the fastest race lap was 2:16.505, [11] while the fastest race lap in the FIA Formula 3 race meeting held at the same track in 2024 was 2:05.770. [12] The 2024 French Formula 4 Championship had a round at the same track; the fastest race lap recorded at that meeting was 2:22.539. [13]

Championships

Series nameZone/countryActive yearsChassisEngine
FIA Formula Regional series
Formula Regional Americas Championship North America 2018–present Ligier JS F3 Honda 2.0 L
Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine Europe 2019–present Tatuus F.3 T-318 (2019–2020)
Tatuus FR-19 (2021–present)
Alfa Romeo 1.8 L (2019–2020)
Renault Sport 1.8 L (2021–present)
Formula Regional Japanese Championship Japan 2020–present Dome F111/3 Alfa Romeo 1.8 L
Formula Regional Oceania Championship New Zealand 2020–present Tatuus FT-60 Toyota 2.0 L
Formula Regional Middle East Championship Middle East 2023–present Tatuus F.3 T-318 Alfa Romeo 1.8 L
FIA Formula Regional World Cup [14] Macau 2024 Tatuus F.3 T-318 [15] Alfa Romeo 1.8 L [16]
Other series using FIA Formula Regional regulations
Ultimate Cup Series [17] France 2020–present Tatuus FR-19 Renault Sport 1.8 L
Eurocup-3 Europe 2023–present Tatuus F.3 T-318 Alfa Romeo 1.8 L
Planned FIA Formula Regional series
Formula Regional Indian Championship India TBC Tatuus F.3 T-318 Alfa Romeo 1.8 L
Formula Regional Australia Australia 2025- Tatuus FT-60 Toyota 2.0 L
Former series using FIA Formula Regional regulations
Formula Regional Asian Championship Asia 2018–2022 Tatuus F.3 T-318 Alfa Romeo 1.8 L
Formula Renault Eurocup Europe 2019–2020 Tatuus FR-19 Renault Sport 1.8 L
W Series International2019, 2021–2022 Tatuus F.3 T-318
Tatuus FT-60 (for two rounds in 2022)
Alfa Romeo 1.8 L
Toyota 2.0 L (for two rounds in 2022)

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References

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