Focus on the Eurocup-3, FRECA’s new competitor

Major championship in the Regional Formula category interspersed between the F3 FIA and the national Formula 4 championships, FRECA already had to deal with competition, although not fierce, from the Euroformula Open or even national F3 championships such as GB3 in Great Britain. From 2023, there will be one more competing series, since a new championship has been born, called Eurocup-3.

Organized by the promoters of Spanish F4, the series will welcome drivers aged at least 16. Per weekend, there will be 2 free practice sessions of 40 minutes, 2 qualifying sessions of 15 minutes, and two races of 30 minutes + 1 lap. On the calendar, four of the eight rounds will take place in Spain (Aragon, Jérez, Valencia, Barcelona), while the other meetings will take place in Spa, Monza, Zandvoort and Estoril.

Alfa Romeo engine, Hankook tires in Eurocup-3

As for the car, it will be a Tatuus T-318, the one we see at work in FRECA, but it should however be lighter by around 25 kg (because it meets the new technical regulations 2022), and will be equipped with a brand new aero kit which will allow the car to have more aerodynamic downforce.

No motorization Alpine obviously used but instead, a motor Alfa Romeo of 300 horsepower, the one used in Asia for the winter series of the category and which the Regional Formula Europe used before its merger with the Formula Renault Eurocup. Note that the tire supplier will be Hankook. 

Organized in part with the teams, the championship and the teams have planned to set a ceiling concerning the cost of the seasons, which should not exceed 450 euros, compared to sometimes 000, or even more in a top team in FRECA. No team has yet been announced but MP Motorsport, Drivex, Campos or even Carlin could participate. Champion of F550 France in 000, the Tricolore Esteban Masson is indeed considering taking part to revive himself after a difficult FRECA season. 

Also note that the number of cars on the Eurocup-3 grid should be limited (probably between 20 and 26 cars). However, it will remain to be seen the level of competitiveness of the grid in 2023. Also, it is difficult to imagine the FIA, which managed to slowly kill the Formula Renault Eurocup to develop its own pyramid and install the FRECA, being generous in superlicense points with this new series. Will top drivers leaving F4 or repeating FRECA choose this championship? 

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