Formula Regional

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]

Formula Regional "FR" logo

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 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)