The FIA Formula Regional European Championship will be contested over 10 events in 2027 with a round supporting the FIA Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix*, plus the addition of Barcelona, Portimão and Silverstone to the schedule, among the key highlights.
 
Following FIA World Motor Sport Council approval, it is confirmed that the race for success in year two of FIA FREC will begin at Autodromo do Algarve in Portimão from 8-11 April, one of six venues due to appear on the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar next season.
 
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which along with Portimão and Silverstone is a newcomer to the FIA FREC schedule, is set to host the season finale from 7-10 October and bring the curtain down on an expanded calendar, which has increased to 10 rounds after eight rounds took place in 2026.
 
Organised and promoted by FIA Member Club Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI), FIA FREC enjoys the full support of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide. It follows Formula 4 on the FIA Single-Seater Pyramid with FIA Formula 3 the next step ahead of FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 1.
 
Formula 1 drivers Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto and Isack Hadjar are all graduates of Formula Regional while several drivers who raced in FIA FREC in 2026 did so with the support of Formula 1 team academies.
 
In another change for 2027, all events will include a maximum of two races after some rounds featured three races during FIA FREC’s inaugural 2026 season.
 
With the exception of the FIA Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix support event*, all FIA FREC weekends will consist of free practice on Friday, Qualifying 1 and Race 1 on Saturday and Qualifying 2 and Race 2 on Sunday.
 
The format of the Hungaroring weekend* is subject to confirmation but is expected to feature Free Practice and Qualifying on Friday 30 July, Race 1 on Saturday 31 July and Race 2 on Sunday 1 August.
 
Meanwhile, the frequency of events has been adjusted to allow a longer gap between each round. This has been achieved through an earlier start to the season and a later finish.
 
FIA Single-Seater Commission President Emanuele Pirro said: “The success of FIA FREC’s inaugural season, with 11 different winners, has given us a strong foundation for 2027. Expanding to 10 rounds responds to the wishes of the teams, while the revised weekend format and the spacing between events reflect feedback from drivers, teams and partners. While the round is subject to contract, the chance to race alongside Formula 1 at the Hungaroring will give our drivers, mechanics and engineers an invaluable opportunity to showcase their potential on one of the sport’s biggest stages.”
 
ACI Sport General Manager Mario Isola said: “The FIA Formula Regional European Championship plays an important role in developing the next generation of single-seater talent. Working closely with the FIA, ACI Sport is committed to giving drivers and teams a strong sporting platform as the championship grows to 10 rounds in 2027. We are also proud that Imola and Monza, two circuits with a special place in Italian motorsport, will host the championship as part of the ACI Racing Weekends.”
 
The provisional FIA FREC calendar for 2027 follows**:
 
9-11 April: Autodromo do Algarve, Portimão (Portugal)
23-25 April: Red Bull Ring (Austria)
14-16 May: Silverstone Circuit (Great Britain)
18-20 June: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
16-18 July: Circuit Paul Ricard (France)
30 July-1 August: Hungaroring (Hungary)*
6-8 August: Circuit Zandvoort (Netherlands)
10-12 September: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola (Italy)
24-26 September: Autodromo Nazionale Monza (Italy)
8-10 October: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Spain)
 
Q&A: FIA Single-Seater Commission President Emanuele Pirro
 
The FIA FREC calendar for 2027 has increased from eight to 10 rounds. Why?
“It was the overwhelming wish of the teams to expand the schedule and there was plenty of interest from venue and event promoters given the success of the inaugural FIA FREC season, with 30-car grids at all events, 11 winners and great racing from potential Formula 1 world champions of the future. To accommodate more events, we’ve changed the format of the weekends by removing the reverse-grid race, so the number of races will be capped at 20, which is the same amount as originally scheduled in 2026. We’ve also worked hard on improving the frequency of events to allow for a bigger gap between each weekend, which has been done in response to feedback from our drivers, teams and partners.”
 
How important is the addition of a Formula 1 support race*?
“It’s really important and, equally, it’s great news. FIA FREC is the second step on the FIA Junior Single-Seater Pyramid with Formula 1 at the very top after Formula 3 and Formula 2. To compete at the highest level is an ambition of all our drivers, mechanics and engineers, so the opportunity to showcase their potential in front of Formula 1 teams cannot be underestimated. It will also be exciting for fans to experience the spectacle of FIA FREC, in many cases for the first time.”
 
There are some new tracks on the calendar. What benefit does this bring?
“Although consistency in the calendar is important, we also wanted to add new tracks to the season. This has been done to not only make for a level playing field, but it’s also in response from countries – and their FIA Member Clubs – that didn’t host FIA FREC events during the inaugural season in 2026. We’re delighted to be going back to seven of the eight venues we visited in 2026 but equally excited to be visiting Barcelona, Portimão and Silverstone for the first time.”

What is FIA FREC?
Having taken over from the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) for the 2026 season, FIA FREC is the headlining Formula Regional Championship Certified by FIA.
 
All FIA FREC drivers compete in the second-generation Formula Regional Tatuus T 326 on Pirelli tyres. Not only does the level playing field ensure close competition, it also increases the rate that drivers develop.
 
Developed by Italian constructor Tatuus in partnership with the FIA, the Tatuus T 326  follows the aerodynamic philosophy deployed in Formula 1 to encourage closer racing, while representing another step in terms of performance and safety. The car features the Race Mode push to pass system, which allows drivers to trigger full engine performance when activated by a button pressed from inside the cockpit. Its introduction is the result of extensive research and development managed by the FIA.
 
Subject to final FIA confirmation, Emanuele Olivieri is the FIA FREC champion for 2026 after he beat Sebastian Wheldon, Kean Nakamura-Berta and Rashid Al Dhaheri during a four-way title showdown at Hockenheim in Germany last month. Italian Olivieri also won the FIA FREC Rookie title, while R-ace GP from France secured the FIA FREC Teams’ title during the Hockenheim weekend.
 
Click HERE for more on the FIA Formula Regional European Championship. Watch all the FIA FREC races from 2026 on YouTube.
 
*Subject to contract
**Details of headlining/support races at all rounds to be announced in due course.

ENDS

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