A category, not a championship
Formula Regional certifies regional series to a shared standard. A driver can contest the European season, then the Middle East championship in the same year, in cars of the same class.
The rung between Formula 4 and Formula 3
Formula Regional
Not one championship but a whole FIA tier — six certified Formula Regional series racing on four continents, built to close the gap between Formula 4 and FIA Formula 3, and the category that produced Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar.
2017Approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council
6Certified championships worldwide
270hp, midway between F4 and F3
ChampionshipsDriversTatuus & LigierPush-to-passThe F1 ladder
What is Formula Regional?
Formula Regional is an FIA category, not a single championship. Approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in December 2017 as "Regional Formula 3", it certifies regional one-make Formula Three championships to a shared standard, and sits between Formula 4 and the FIA Formula 3 Championship on the FIA Global Pathway to Formula 1. Formula Regional cars produce around 270 hp against roughly 160 for Formula 4 and 380 for FIA Formula 3. Six certified championships currently race: the Americas, Europe, Japan, Oceania, the Middle East and the World Cup at Macau. The European championship is the flagship.
- Category approved
- December 2017, by the FIA World Motor Sport Council
- Ladder position
- Between Formula 4 and FIA Formula 3
- Certified championships
- Six, across four continents
- Flagship
- FIA Formula Regional European Championship
01 — How it began
How Formula Regional began.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the concept in December 2017 under the name Regional Formula 3, written into Article 275 and Appendix J of the International Sporting Code. The problem it was created to solve was a gap: Formula 4 cars made around 160 hp, FIA Formula 3 around 380, and there was nothing in between.
The first two championships launched in 2018, in Asia and North America, followed by Europe in 2019 and Japan in 2020. Because several early championships still carried “F3” in their titles, the FIA gradually rebranded them all under the commercial name Formula Regional to avoid confusion with pre-2018 Formula 3 and with the international FIA Formula 3 Championship. The category was formally renamed Formula Regional in the 2024 technical regulations.
Several existing series were absorbed rather than replaced. The Formula Renault Eurocup adopted Formula Regional rules in 2019, New Zealand’s Toyota Racing Series — running since 2005 — adopted them in 2020 and became FIA-certified in 2023, and the all-female W Series ran to Formula Regional regulations for all three of its seasons.
- Approved
- December 2017, FIA World Motor Sport Council
- Original name
- Regional Formula 3, under Article 275 / Appendix J
- Renamed
- Formula Regional, formally in the 2024 technical regulations
- First championships
- Asia and North America, 2018
- Chassis in use
- Tatuus T-318, FR-19, T-326 and FT-60; Ligier JS F3; Dome F111/3
- Engines
- Honda, Alfa Romeo, Renault Sport and Toyota, depending on the championship
- Power
- Around 270 hp
02 — The essentials
What makes Formula Regional different?
One set of FIA regulations, six championships, and a very precise job on the ladder.
The gap it was built to fill
At Spa in 2024 the fastest Formula Regional race lap was 2:16.505. FIA Formula 3 managed 2:05.770 at the same circuit that year, and French Formula 4 2:22.539. That is the whole design brief in three numbers.
Similar weight to F3, far less downforce
Drivers who have raced both describe Formula Regional cars as close to FIA Formula 3 in weight but with much less downforce and less power — which is why it teaches car control before aerodynamic grip.
Regulations shared, hardware not
Chassis and engines differ by region: Ligier and Honda in the Americas, Tatuus and Toyota in Europe and Oceania, Dome and Alfa Romeo in Japan. The performance window is what the FIA standardises.
03 — Race weekend format
A European race weekend, decoded.
Qualifying
Two sessions across the weekend set the grids for the main races. At three-race rounds the top twelve of the first session are reversed for the sprint.
Two main races
Full points, 25 for a win, plus bonus points for pole position and fastest lap — both new for 2026.
Sprint, at four rounds
A third, shorter race on a reversed grid paying reduced points, added in 2026 when the calendar shrank from ten events to eight.
The European car carries push-to-pass: a 15-second boost usable five times per race. Formats differ between the six championships — this is the European one.
04 — How points are scored
European points system.
| Pos | Main race | Sprint |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 25 | 10 |
| 2nd | 18 | 9 |
| 3rd | 15 | 8 |
| 4th | 12 | 7 |
| 5th | 10 | 6 |
| 6th | 8 | 5 |
| 7th | 6 | 4 |
| 8th | 4 | 3 |
| 9th | 2 | 2 |
| 10th | 1 | 1 |
Bonus points and the 2026 overhaul
- +2 points for pole position and +1 for fastest lap in the top ten — both introduced for 2026.
- The sprint race pays a fastest-lap point but no pole point.
- Sprint grids reverse the top twelve from the first qualifying session.
- Sprints run only at the four three-race rounds: Spielberg, Spa, Monza and Imola.
Scoring varies between the six Formula Regional championships. This is the 2026 European system, which was overhauled when the calendar was cut from ten events to eight.
05 — Race calendar
Finale: Hockenheimring · 12–13 September 2026 European calendar.
| Round | Races | Circuit | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 3 races | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria | 25–26 April |
| 02 | 2 races | Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands | 23–24 May |
| 03 | 3 races | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium | 30–31 May |
| 04 | 3 races | Monza Circuit, Italy | 20–21 June |
| 05 | 2 races | Hungaroring, Hungary | 4–5 July |
| 06 | 2 races | Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France | 18–19 July |
| 07 | 3 races | Imola Circuit, Italy | 5–6 September |
| 08 | 2 races | Hockenheimring, Germany | 12–13 September |
Last updated: 7 September 2026. Eight events and twenty races, down from ten events — Misano and Barcelona did not return, and four rounds gained a third race instead. Seven rounds are complete: Emanuele Olivieri leads on 200 points from Sebastian Wheldon on 180 and Kean Nakamura-Berta on 175, with the Hockenheim finale still to run. The other five Formula Regional championships run their own calendars.
06 — From 2017 to today
Formula Regional timeline.
2017
The category is approved
The FIA World Motor Sport Council signs off Regional Formula 3 in December, to bridge Formula 4 and FIA Formula 3.
2018
First two championships
Asia and North America launch, on the Tatuus T-318 and the Ligier JS F3.
2019
Europe joins
The European championship debuts, the Formula Renault Eurocup adopts the regulations, and the new all-female W Series races to them too.
2020
Japan and Oceania
Japan launches on the Dome F111/3, and New Zealand's Toyota Racing Series — running since 2005 — adopts Formula Regional rules.
2021
Alpine arrives in Europe
The European championship becomes Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, with Renault Sport engines.
2023
The Middle East and Oceania certified
A Middle East championship launches, and the Oceania series becomes a fully FIA-certified Formula Regional championship.
2024
A World Cup and a new name
Macau begins hosting the FIA Formula Regional World Cup, and the category is formally renamed Formula Regional in the technical regulations.
2026
Alpine out, Toyota in
Europe splits from Alpine after five seasons, retires the Tatuus FR-19 after seven, and switches to the Tatuus T-326 with Toyota power. Australia's AU3 Championship joins the category.
07 — The cars
Every Formula Regional chassis.
Tatuus F.3 T-318
The original Formula Regional car, still racing in the Middle East and at the Macau World Cup, and the chassis W Series used.
Ligier JS F3
The Americas championship's car, uniquely powered by a Honda 2.0-litre, and the only non-Tatuus, non-Dome chassis in the category.
Tatuus FR-19
Europe's car for seven seasons, on Renault Sport power from 2021. Also used by the Formula Renault Eurocup and the Ultimate Cup Series.
Tatuus FT-60
Built for New Zealand's Toyota Racing Series, now the Oceania championship's car and the basis of Australia's AU3 Championship from 2026.
Dome F111/3
The Japanese championship's chassis, and the only Formula Regional car built in Japan.
Tatuus T-326
Europe's new car, replacing the FR-19 and paired with a Toyota G16E-GTS 1.6-litre.
08 — Champions and graduates
Racers who defined their eras.
2025 European Champion
Freddie Slater
2025 Formula Regional European Champion · Prema Racing · Prema's fourth title in a row, and he led the FIA Formula 3 championship the following season
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Kimi Antonelli
2023 European champion with Prema at sixteen, in Formula 1 with Mercedes from 2025.
2023 European champion
Rafael Câmara
2024 European champion with Prema, who then won the 2025 FIA Formula 3 title in his rookie season.
2024 European champion
Dino Beganovic
2022 European champion with Prema and a Ferrari junior, later racing in Formula 2.
2022 European champion
Grégoire Saucy
2021 European champion with ART Grand Prix — the only driver to break Prema's grip on the title.
2021 European champion
Frederik Vesti
The category's first European champion, in 2019 with Prema, later a Mercedes junior and Formula 2 race winner.
2019 European champion
Gabriel Bortoleto
Raced the European championship before winning the FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles back to back, and reaching Formula 1 with Sauber.
F1 graduate
Formula Regional Franco Colapinto
The first European-championship graduate to reach Formula 1, called up by Williams mid-2024.
First to F1
Sebastian Wheldon
Second in the 2026 European championship in his first season with MP Motorsport, and the son of IndyCar champion and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon.
2026 European runner-up
09 — Defining events
Crises, controversies and turning points.
A gap in the ladder gets filled
Before Formula Regional, drivers jumped from 160 hp Formula 4 cars straight to 380 hp FIA Formula 3 machinery. The category exists because that step was too big.
The Formula Renault Eurocup ends
One of Europe's great feeder series adopts Formula Regional rules in 2019 and is gone a season later, absorbed into the new order.
W Series and the Asian championship both stop
Two of the category's early adopters fall away in the same year — W Series to financial collapse, the Asian championship after five seasons.
The category gets its real name
After years of championships carrying confusing "F3" titles, Formula Regional is written into the technical regulations as the category's formal name.
Colapinto reaches Formula 1
Franco Colapinto becomes the first European-championship graduate to race in Formula 1, joining Williams mid-season.
Alpine walks away from Europe
The flagship championship loses its title partner and engine supplier after five seasons, and changes both car and engine in one winter.
10 — Around the world
Every Formula Regional championship.
The flagship championship
FIA Formula Regional European Championship
Eighth season in 2026 · new Tatuus T-326 and Toyota power after splitting from Alpine · R-ace GP lead the teams' standings on 401 points from MP Motorsport and Prema
#1
AME
Formula Regional AmericasNorth America · 2018–present · Ligier JS F3 with Honda 2.0-litre power
#2
ASI
Formula Regional AsianAsia · 2018–2022 · defunct after five seasons, on the Tatuus T-318
#3
EUR
FIA Formula Regional EuropeanEurope · 2019–present · the flagship; Tatuus T-326 and Toyota from 2026
#4
WSR
W SeriesInternational · 2019, 2021–2022 · all-female, raced to Formula Regional rules; folded
#5
JPN
Formula Regional JapaneseJapan · 2020–present · Dome F111/3 with Alfa Romeo 1.8-litre power
#6
OCE
Formula Regional OceaniaNew Zealand · FR rules from 2020, FIA-certified in 2023 · Tatuus FT-60, Toyota
#7
MEA
Formula Regional Middle EastMiddle East · 2023–present · Tatuus T-318 with Alfa Romeo power
#8
MAC
FIA Formula Regional World CupMacau · 2024–present · a one-off World Cup at the Macau Grand Prix
#9
AU3
AU3 ChampionshipAustralia · from 2026 · Tatuus FT-60 with Toyota 2.0-litre power
11 — Frequently asked
Formula Regional FAQ.
What is Formula Regional?
An FIA category rather than a single championship. It certifies regional one-make Formula Three series to a shared performance standard, and sits between Formula 4 and the FIA Formula 3 Championship on the ladder to Formula 1.
How many Formula Regional championships are there?
Six certified championships currently race: the Americas, Europe, Japan, Oceania, the Middle East and the World Cup at Macau. Australia's AU3 Championship joined the category in 2026.
Which is the main Formula Regional championship?
The FIA Formula Regional European Championship. It has the strongest grids and the best record of putting drivers into Formula 1.
How fast is a Formula Regional car?
Around 270 hp, against roughly 160 for Formula 4 and 380 for FIA Formula 3. At Spa in 2024 the fastest Formula Regional race lap was 2:16.505, compared with 2:05.770 for FIA Formula 3 and 2:22.539 for French Formula 4 at the same circuit.
Is Formula Regional the same as Formula 3?
No. It was created as "Regional Formula 3" and renamed to avoid exactly that confusion. FIA Formula 3 is the single global championship that races on Formula 1 weekends; Formula Regional is the tier below it.
What cars does Formula Regional use?
Six chassis across the category: the Tatuus T-318, FR-19, T-326 and FT-60, the Ligier JS F3 in the Americas, and the Dome F111/3 in Japan. Engines come from Honda, Alfa Romeo, Renault Sport or Toyota depending on the championship.
What changed in the European championship for 2026?
A great deal. The championship split from Alpine after five seasons and is now the FIA Formula Regional European Championship; the Tatuus FR-19 was retired after seven years for the new Tatuus T-326; the engine changed from Renault Sport to Toyota; the calendar shrank from ten events to eight with four rounds gaining a third race; and pole and fastest-lap points were introduced.
Who is leading the 2026 European championship?
After seven of eight rounds, Emanuele Olivieri leads on 200 points from Sebastian Wheldon on 180 and Kean Nakamura-Berta on 175. R-ace GP lead the teams' standings on 401. The finale is at Hockenheim on 12–13 September.
Who has won the European championship?
Frederik Vesti (2019), Gianluca Petecof (2020), Grégoire Saucy (2021), Dino Beganovic (2022), Kimi Antonelli (2023), Rafael Câmara (2024) and Freddie Slater (2025). Prema Racing has won six of the seven.
Which Formula 1 drivers came through Formula Regional?
Franco Colapinto was the first to reach Formula 1, with Williams in 2024. Kimi Antonelli went to Mercedes, Gabriel Bortoleto to Sauber and Isack Hadjar to Racing Bulls, all for 2025.
Was W Series a Formula Regional championship?
It raced to Formula Regional regulations for all three of its seasons on the Tatuus T-318, but it was not an FIA-certified Formula Regional championship. It folded in 2022.
What is push-to-pass in Formula Regional?
In the European championship, a 15-second power boost that a driver may use five times per race.
Are there other series using Formula Regional rules?
Yes. France's Ultimate Cup Series has run to the regulations since 2020 and Eurocup-3 since 2023, without being FIA-certified Formula Regional championships. A Formula Regional Indian Championship has been announced but not confirmed.
Is Kozmozracing affiliated with Formula Regional?
No. Unless a product page explicitly states otherwise, Kozmozracing is an independent store and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FIA, any Formula Regional championship, team or driver.
Sources
- Formula Regional: the FIA category and every certified championship · Wikipedia
- Formula Regional European Championship: history, champions and cars · Wikipedia
- 2026 Formula Regional European Championship: entries, calendar, scoring and standings · Wikipedia
- ACI Sport, promoter of the Formula Regional European Championship · ACI Sport (official)
- Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile · FIA (official)
- Photo: Olivieri's R-ace GP car, Spielberg 2026, by Lukas Raich · Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Freddie Slater at Macau, 2025, by Mitchea99 · Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: The Tatuus T-326, Spielberg 2026, by Lukas Raich · Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Independent fan guide: Formats, calendars and regulations differ between the six Formula Regional championships and can change. Verify current sporting information with the FIA and the relevant championship directly. Championship, team and driver names belong to their respective rights holders.
12 — The collection
Formula Regional-inspired collection.
No products are assigned to Formula Regional yet. Add products to this series in the product editor.