The second tier on the FIA Single-Seater Pyramid, FIA FREC serves as the ideal proving ground for drivers with experience in Formula 4 Championships Certified by the FIA aiming to progress to FIA Formula 3 and beyond in the future.

With all drivers competing in the second-generation Formula Regional Tatuus T 326 on Pirelli tyres, the level playing field not only ensures close competition but increases the rate that drivers progress.

Organised and promoted by FIA Member Club Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) and having taken over from the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA), 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.

All-new for 2026, the Tatuus T 326 has been developed by the Italian constructor in partnership with the FIA. It 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.

The inaugural FIA FREC season so far
With five rounds run, Emirati Rashid Al Dhaheri (R-ace GP) heads the provisional standings by 21 points over Briton Kean Nakamura-Berta (Prema Racing) with American Sebastian Wheldon (MP Motorsport) nine points further back in third.

While Nakamura-Berta and Wheldon have triumphed twice in 2026 – the former claiming the honours in the inaugural FIA FREC race at Red Bull Ring in April, the latter unbeaten at Circuit Zandvoort in May – Al Dhaheri banked his third win of the season in the second of two races at Hungaroring earlier this month.

Reno Francot, Maksimilian Popov and Yuki Sano, plus Rookie contenders Alexandre Munoz and Emanuele Olivieri, have also climbed to the top step of the podium in 2026, with Munoz winning at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Olivieri taking top spot on home soil at Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

No shortage of track time in FIA FREC
FIA FREC drivers will benefit from significant track time at Circuit Paul Ricard, which features a combination of low-, medium- and high-speed corners and a total lap length of 5822 kilometres. The 1.8-kilometre Mistral Straight includes a chicane that forms Turns 8 and 9.

In store from Friday to Sunday are two free practice sessions, two qualifying sessions and two races. Drivers are split into two groups of 15 for Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2 to make both sessions as productive as possible. Click HERE to view the full weekend timetable and a reminder that both qualifying sessions and both races from Circuit Paul Ricard, which hosted one of three FIA FREC pre-season tests, will be streamed live on YouTube as well as being broadcast by 70 networks across 200 territories worldwide.

FIA Single-Seater Commission President Emanuele Pirro said: “As we prepare for the summer break, we can be proud of what has been achieved so far during the first FIA FREC season, not just in terms of the very competitive racing we see each weekend, but the eagerness of the drivers to learn and improve. Our teams are also performing to a very high level, which is making an important contribution to the pace of driver development.

“While we will continue to call for drivers to avoid unnecessary incidents and show respect to each other, key points we’ll remind them of during Friday’s briefing, we want them to race strong and show the progress they are making behind the wheel.

“Paul Ricard offers a unique challenge with its combination of low-, medium- and high-speed corners, a useful opportunity for drivers to work on set-up and consider how they use Race Mode in the two races.

“The ambient temperatures reaching 36 degrees centigrade on Saturday and Sunday will create an extra challenge for the young boys.”

Who’s in it to win it?
Click HERE for the 2026 FIA Formula Regional European Championship line-up.

FIA FREC round six at a glance
Friday 17 July
11:38-12:28: Free Practice 1
16:46-17:36: Free Practice 2
Saturday 18 July
09:00-09:15: Qualifying 1 (Group A)
09:20-09:35: Qualifying 1 (Group B)
13:00: Race 1 (30 minutes plus one lap)
Sunday 19 July
09:05-09:20: Qualifying 2 (Group B)
09:25-09:40: Qualifying 2 (Group A)
16:25: Race 2 (30 minutes plus one lap)

How they score?
1st = 25 points; 2nd = 18 points; 3rd = 15 points; 4th = 12 points; 5th = 10 points; 6th = 8 points; 7th = 6 points; 8th = 4 points; 9th = 2 points; 10th = 1 point; pole Position = 2 points; fastest lap = 1 point. FIA Driver, Team and Rookie titles will be awarded.

Remaining rounds
Imola, Italy (4-6 September)
Hockenheim, Germany (11-13 September)

Provisional FIA FREC standings after round five
1 Rashid Al Dhaheri (UAE), R-ace GP, 151 points
2 Kean Nakamura-Berta (GBR), Prema Racing, 130
3 Sebastian Wheldon (USA), MP Motorsport, 121
4 Emanuele Olivieri (ITA), R-ace GP, 116
5 Reno Francot (NLD), CL Motorsport, 84
6 Salim Hanna (COL), Prema Racing, 59
7 Alex Ninovic (AUS), Rodin Motorsport, 57
8 Yuki Sano (JPN), R-ace GP, 55
9 Zhenrui Chi (ITA), MP Motorsport, 47
10 Alexander Abkhazava (KAZ), MP Motorsport, 44

FIA FREC winners so far in 2026
Red Bull Ring Race 1: Kean Nakamura-Berta
Red Bull Ring Race 2: Rashid Al Dhaheri
Red Bull Ring Race 3: Reno Francot
Circuit Zandvoort Race 1: Sebastian Wheldon
Circuit Zandvoort Race 2: Sebastian Wheldon
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Race 1: Alexandre Munoz
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Race 2: Maksimilian Popov
Autodromo Nazionale Monza Race 1: Kean Nakamura-Berta
Autodromo Nazionale Monza Race 2: Rashid Al Dhaheri
Autodromo Nazionale Monza Race 3: Emanuele Olivieri
Hungaroring Race 1: Yuki Sano
Hungaroring Race 2: Rashid Al Dhaheri

Click HERE for the full provisional standings after round five.

Click HERE for more on the FIA Formula Regional European Championship.