Rafael Camara, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Dino Beganovic, and before them Grégoire Saucy, Formula Regional builds champions. A quick look at the series’ roll of honour reveals a growing legacy of excellence, with many former drivers now competing in Formula 1, including Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Co-organised by ACI Sport and Alpine Racing since 2021, the championship now enters its fifth season, kicking off this weekend at Misano, an all-new venue for the series, with a 26-car grid representing ten teams.
The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine continues to affirm its role as the only official FIA-certified step between Formula 4 and Formula 3, in full alignment with the FIA’s single-seater pyramid. Among the many standout names on the grid is Freddie Slater (Prema Racing), who arrives as reigning Italian F4 champion. The 16-year-old Briton will continue his journey with the reigning teams’ champions, who also line up with Mercedes Junior Team drivers Rashid Al Dhaheri and Doriane Pin. Pin enters her second year in the series while concurrently competing in the F1 Academy, which prevents her from taking part in the Misano season opener. Rounding out the Prema squad is Australian Jack Beeton, a title contender last year in F4 alongside Slater.
Another returning name is Enzo Deligny (R-ace GP), joined by 2024 Euro4 Champion Akshay Bohra and Japanese newcomer Jin Nakamura. Pedro Clerot (Van Amersfoort Racing) returns for a second FRECA campaign with the Dutch outfit, who also debut Japanese driver Hiyu Yamakoshi, third in last year’s Italian F4 and Dion Gowda. All eyes are also on Evan Giltaire (ART Grand Prix), a race winner in 2023 and the newly crowned Formula Regional Middle East champion. The French team also welcomes Japanese driver Taito Kato, who makes his debut in the series, alongside compatriot Kanato Le.
Nikita Bedrin, bringing experience from Formula 3, lines up alongside series newcomer Tim Gerhards under the Saintéloc Racing banner. Giovanni Maschio remains with RPM for a second season, joined by Enzo Peugeot and Rui-Heng Yeh. Trident Motorsport lines up with Matteo De Palo, Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi, and Ruiqi Liu. G4 Racing fields three newcomers: Arthur Aegerter, Edouard Borgna, and Kacper Sztuka.
This weekend also marks the debut of two new teams in the championship: CL Motorsport, counting on the experience of Valerio Rinicella, and Akcel GP, who will compete with Aditya Kulkarni and Saqer Al Maosherji.
Saturday features Qualifying 1 at 8:30 and Race 1 at 16:10. Sunday opens with Qualifying 2 at 8:30, followed by Race 2 at 17:30. As always, both qualifying and races will be streamed live.