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Formula Regional

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]

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

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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

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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

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Series name Zone/country Active years Chassis Engine
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 International 2019, 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)

References

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  1. ^ "FIA Announces World Motor Sport Council Decisions". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 6 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Asia to Host FIA-Certified F3 Championship in 2018". F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA. 26 January 2018.
  3. ^ DiZinno, Tony (19 October 2017). "F3 Americas launches car; confirms April 2018 debut at VIR". NBC Sports.
  4. ^ "Five F3 T-318 already delivered while the new sire goes on-line". ACI Sport. 23 November 2018.
  5. ^ Wood, Ida (11 September 2019). "Japanese Regional F3 series and car revealed". Formula Scout.
  6. ^ "TRS to become Formula Regional Oceania". www.motorsport.com. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  7. ^ "Formula Regional". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Formula 3 Regional Technical Regulations". fia.com. FIA. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  9. ^ "2024 Formula Regional – 2nd Gen Technical Regulations" (PDF). fia.com. FIA. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  10. ^ Hall, Sam (24 May 2024). "F3 drivers unimpressed by controversial Macau GP Formula Regional switch". motorsport.com. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Spa-Francorchamps 2024". Formula Regional by Alpine. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  12. ^ "Formula 3 2024 Result for Round 9 : Belgium , Spa-Francorchamps 26-28 July 2024". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  13. ^ "Resultats F4 – FFSA Academy" (in French). Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  14. ^ "Formula Regional machinery set for ultimate challenge in Macau FIA FR World Cup". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 2024-05-22. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  15. ^ "Entries open for headlining FIA World Cups at Macau GP". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  16. ^ "Entries open for headlining FIA World Cups at Macau GP". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  17. ^ "Challenge Monoplace Ultimate Cup Series 2021 Sporting and Technical Regulation" (PDF). series.ultimatecup.racing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2024-04-08.