Providing the first opportunity for the 10 teams registered for the inaugural FIA FR European Championship to take to the track with the all-new second-generation Tatuus T-326 at the same time, the test also served as an important drill for the FIA’s expert technical personnel.

They completed the same extensive technical checks and operations normally carried out during a race weekend. This was done to rigorously ensure a level playing field during the test, identify any potential issues ahead of the next pre-season group session at Circuit Paul Ricard from 30-31 March, and highlight their role to team personnel, some of whom are new to the FIA FR category for 2026.

A total of 30 drivers took part in the test at the former German Grand Prix venue. Day one (Tuesday) was reserved for those who had not driven the Tatuus T-326 in other series in order to level up time behind the wheel of the new-for-2026 machine. All drivers were on track for day two (Wednesday), despite rain affecting the morning running and for a brief period in the afternoon. More than 11,500 kilometres were covered during the two days.

In dry conditions, Marcus Sæter (G4 Racing) set the overall fastest time, posting a 1m34.370s during Tuesday afternoon’s session. The Norwegian headed Frenchman Alexandre Munoz (ART Grand Prix), who has also graduated from FIA-certified Formula 4 championships and set a personal best time of 1m34.460s. Latvian Tomass Štolcermanis (Prema Racing) was third quickest. Kuwait’s Saqer Almaosherji, also driving for G4 Racing, topped the Tuesday morning session in 1m34.709s.

FR Middle East Trophy Certified by FIA runner-up Rashid Al Dhaheri (R-Ace GP) was quickest on Wednesday morning, his time of 1m34.589s bettering Miguel Costa’s best effort by 0.093s for RPM Motorsport. Costa’s team-mate Emanuele Olivieri, who started the inaugural FIA Formula 4 World Cup in Macau last November on pole position, was third quickest. CL Motorsport’s Dutch driver Reno Francot set the pace on Wednesday afternoon with a 1m34.500s best effort ahead of RPM’s Polish driver Jan Przyrowski, who was 0.281s adrift. Indian Dion Gowda completed the top three for Van Amersfoort Racing.

Following two days of running at Circuit Paul Ricard from 30-31 March, FIA FR European Championship pre-season testing concludes at Red Bull Ring from 4-5 April. The first FIA Formula Regional European Championship race weekend then takes place at the Austrian track from 24-26 April.

An exciting new addition to the FIA Single-Seater Pyramid, the FIA FR European Championship has evolved from the highly successful FR European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), a cornerstone of sporting excellence and technical equality.

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, is fully supporting the renamed FIA FR European Championship, which is being organised and promoted by FIA Member Club, Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI).

It has also developed the eagerly anticipated second-generation FIA FR machine, which follows the aerodynamic philosophy deployed in Formula 1 to encourage closer racing. Its design also represents another step in terms of performance and safety.

Click HERE for Hockenheim FIA FR European Championship test times.