Formula Regional (FR) is an FIA-approved moniker for certified regional one-make

Formula Three Formula Three (F3) is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. History Formula Three (adop ...

championships with the concept being approved during the

FIA World Motor Sport Council The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) is a part of the governance structure of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. It has responsibility for all aspects of international motor sport. It meets at least three times a year to decide on r ...

meeting in December 2017. The first series under new regulations were launched in

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

and

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

in 2018, followed by European counterpart in 2019 and

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

in 2020. On 13 December 2022, the Toyota Racing Series was rebranded as the

Formula Regional Oceania Championship The Formula Regional Oceania Championship is New Zealand's premier formula racing category. The series includes races for every major trophy in New Zealand circuit racing including the New Zealand Motor Cup and the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy ...

. This step of the FIA Global Pathway ladder serves to close the performance gap between

Formula 4 FIA Formula 4 (F4) is an open-wheel racing car category intended for junior drivers. There is no global championship, but rather individual nations or regions can host their own championships in compliance with a universal set of rules and speci ...

(160 bhp) and global Formula 3 Championship (380 bhp), being powered by 270 bhp engines.

Name

Created under the name Regional Formula 3 by the FIA within the Article 275 / Appendix J of the international sporting code, 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 Formula Three (F3) is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. History Formula Three (adop ...

regulations (pre-2018) and with the "International" Formula 3 (the

FIA Formula 3 Championship The FIA Formula 3 Championship (FIA F3) is a third-tier international Open wheel car, single-seater racing championship organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The championship launched in 2019 as a feeder series for ...

and FIA Formula 3 World Cup). The category itself was formally renamed as Formula Regional in the 2024 technical regulations.

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. As a basis for comparison, at the 2024 Formula Regional race at

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (), informally referred to as Spa, is a Race track, motor-racing circuit located in Francorchamps, Stavelot, Wallonia, Belgium, about southeast of Spa, Belgium, Spa. It is the current venue of the Formula One ...

, the fastest race lap was 2:16.505, while the fastest race lap in the FIA Formula 3 race meeting held at the same track in 2024 was 2:05.770. 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.

Championships

References

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