Formula Regional specifics

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Among the thousands of car races held around the world, there are hardly a dozen that can be called great and legendary without reservation. But you have definitely heard about this contest!
Regional Formula 3, also known by its acronym FR, is a category of single-seater automobile competition.

Regulated by the International Automobile Federation, the FR category serves as a selection stage among young racing drivers wishing to become professionals and enter Formula 1.

The tournament category is between Formula 3 and 4 in the hierarchy of single-seaters. Although the category’s name is Regional F3, the championships in this category use the trade name Formula Regional to distinguish it from F3.

Formula Regional European Championship

Europe hosts dozens of first-class sports tournaments, and racing isn’t an exception. FRECA is a car racing tournament using FR Club d’Italia (ACI) and Alpine since 2021. From the 2021 season, it merges with the Formula Renault Eurocup to become the competition known today.

History retrospective

As part of its overhaul of the formulas for promotion, the FIA is launching a call for tenders in 2018 to create a regional contest. The Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) bid wins the call for tenders against Renault. The cars are Tatuus F3 T-318 with an Alfa Romeo/Autotecnica engine, similar to the W Series or the Asian Formula 32 Championship.

The first season proved very complicated for the competition, with very few entries and ten cars at the start of the primary race, in competition with other championships.

Like the regional F3 Americas competition launched in 2018, which had an equally difficult first season, the European competition welcomes several new teams for the 2020 season, allowing it to have a full grid composed of renowned stables.

Finally, the season is affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the grid is ultimately reduced to a dozen cars, while the Renault Eurocup enters 18 drivers. On October 31, 2020, it was announced that the competition would merge with Renault Eurocup in 2021, this merger giving rise to a new tournament co-organized by ACI and Alpine, which hosts around thirty cars powered by Alpine engines (formerly Renault Sport).

50% of contests take place in Italy, and the other half is held in other European countries with other titles (International GT Open, European Le Mans Series in particular).

Technical aspects

The car

The competition consists of all identical vehicles built by the Italian company Tatuus, while Autotecnica takes care of the engines. The chassis is the Tatuus F.3 T-318 in carbon fiber and complies with the current FIA F3 regulations, including the Halo safety system. The series uses Pirelli tires. In 2021, the Italian supplier is confirmed until 2024.

Technical specifications

Engine: Autotecnica Motori ATM AR-F3R four-cylinder turbo Alfa Romeo 1750 TBi for 1742cc.
Gearbox: 6-speed sequential semi-automatic.

Power: 270 HP.

Sporting aspects

The top nine drivers in the standings are awarded points towards the FIA super license, required to race in Formula 1, with the winner earning the highest possible number of points.

Races

Each race weekend consists of two free practice sessions on Friday, 40 minutes, two qualifying sessions of 15 minutes, and three races, one on Saturday and two on Sunday, lasting 30 minutes plus one lap.

FR 2022 Season

The calendar of the FR 2022 Season was full of fierce competition. The FIA has officially confirmed these first two rounds of the series to host F1 in 2022. The third round of the season will take place at the Circuit de Monaco, with F1, on May 27-29, followed by Le Castellet, on the Circuit Paul Ricard (June 3-5). The fifth round will take place on the Zandvoort circuit from June 17 to 19.

After the mid-season, the competition will move to Hungary for the sixth test from July 8 to 10. For the seventh round, the Alpine contest will travel to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on the 27-30 of the same month, during the 24 Hours of Spa. After a calm period, Round 8 will take place at the Red Bull Ring circuit in Austria, September 8-10. P

enultimate meeting at Montmeló from October 14 to 16 in the grand finale of the return to Italy, on the Mugello circuit. 60 percent of rounds (Monza, Zandvoort, Hungaroring, Spa-Francorshamps, Red Bull Ring, and Mugello) will be preceded by collective pre-event tests.