The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, and the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) are pleased to unveil the official 2026 calendar for the FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) following its approval by e-vote of the World Motor Sport Council.
2026 will be the first season of full FIA support for the series, positioned between national-level FIA-certified Formula 4 championships and the international FIA Formula 3 Championship.
The eight-event calendar will feature a combination of traditional two-race events together with all-new enhanced weekends featuring three races, offering young drivers increased competitive mileage while maintaining a balanced and cost-controlled sporting framework. This refined format strengthens the FIA Single-Seater Pyramid by delivering varied race environments and maximising development opportunities.
The FIA Formula Regional European Championship will feature the all-new second-generation FR car, developed by the FIA following the aerodynamic philosophy deployed in Formula 1 to encourage closer racing.
FIA Single-Seater Committee President, Emanuele Pirro, said: “Getting the balance right between the number of races and the cost-control is not an easy thing at this level, but I think this is something that we have achieved together with ACI for the first season of the FIA Formula Regional European Championship. We want to give the young drivers the best experience possible as they move from national into regional competition, maximising their time on-track and also visiting circuits that will really test their skills.
"The European Championship has historically been the first place where emerging talents from all over the world come and compete all together for the first time, and I’m sure it is here we will start to see the stars of the future rising to the top once again. Whether they are stepping up from Formula 4 or coming from another Formula Regional Championship, we expect FIA FREC to be the final stepping stone before the global F3, F2, and, ultimately, F1 Championships await the very best drivers.”
Tullio Del Sette, Extraordinary Commissioner of ACI, said: “The approval of the 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship calendar is a result that confirms ACI’s central role in the development of international motorsport. The new season will take young drivers to some of the most iconic and technically demanding circuits in Europe, venues that for decades have represented the heart of motor racing tradition.
The introduction of triple-race weekends and the debut of the second-generation single-seater define an even more advanced technical and sporting framework, designed to support a progressive and informed development for drivers aspiring to reach the top of the FIA pyramid.
Our close cooperation with the FIA in building this project is not only a source of pride for ACI, but also a tangible commitment to the future of the sport: ensuring education, meritocracy, and a highly competitive environment for the next generations of motorsport talent.”
Giovanni Battista Tombolato, Deputy Extraordinary Commissioner of ACI, said: “The approval of the 2026 calendar marks another step forward in the growth of Formula Regional, a category that continues to prove essential in the developmental path of young drivers. The new features introduced for the upcoming season further strengthen the championship’s international relevance, while keeping cost control and talent promotion at the center.
For ACI, it is a great satisfaction to contribute, together with the FIA, to a project that looks decisively to the future and represents a concrete investment in young talents, whom we support throughout their development journey, from karting all the way to single-seaters.”
Antonino Geronimo La Russa, President-elect of ACI, said: “The 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship calendar demonstrates the strength of the path built over these past years and the renewed confidence shown by the FIA towards ACI. Next year, the championship will take a significant step forward, offering young drivers an even more educational experience, increasingly aligned with the standards of the higher international categories.
Formula Regional continues to stand as a global benchmark, capable of attracting talents from all over the world and preparing them in the best possible way for the challenges of Formula 3, Formula 2 and, for the most deserving, Formula 1. As an institution, we will continue to work to ensure that this championship remains a fertile ground for the development of tomorrow’s champions.”
