What does the FREC grid look like for the 2026 season?

While the FRECA era came to an end at the 2025 finale in Monza, Italy, the FREC era now begins. The Formula Regional European series will no longer be powered by Alpine - Renault but rather by Toyotawhere the chassis is also evolving. Indeed, from 2026 onwards, Tatuus is supplying a championship now equipped with the T-326 version of its carWith less aerodynamic effect and slightly different shape and handling, the drivers will have to quickly adapt to their new machines to shine and reach the... Formula 3.

Indeed, these new drivers are being announced as the weeks go by, already giving us a glimpse of a competitive grid for 2026. Runner-up in the FRMET (Formula Regional Middle East) series, Rashid Al-Dhaheri will return for a second consecutive season, this time with R-ace GP, the championship-winning team. Supported by Mercedes BenzThe Emirati driver will team up with Japan's Yuki Sano and Italy's Emanuele Olivieri. Meanwhile, Van Amersfoort Racing, the team that was competitive in 2025 but unable to challenge for the drivers' title, has unveiled a promising trio. India's Dion Gowda, Portugal's Francisco Macedo, and France's Andrea Dupé will be fielded by the Dutch team, aiming to improve on Pedro Clerot's fourth-place finish last year.

At RPM, Giovanni Maschio will form a trio with Jan Przyrowski and Miguel Costa, while Rodin Motorsport will rely on Reza Seewooruthun, Gabriel Gomez, and Alex Ninovic, all capable of proving themselves in FRMET this winter. Trident will field a team of drivers less expected than in 2025 but no less promising: Kai Daryanani, Andrija Kostić, and Maximilian Popov. G4 Racing has announced the signings of Norwegian Marcus Sæter, as well as Saqer Almaosherji and Rahim Alibhai.

Capable of leading Freddie Slater to victory in 2025, Prema has secured the services of Italian F4 champion and Middle East Formula Regional champion Kean Nakamura-Berta. The Japanese-Slovakian driver, who races under a British license, is a member of the academy. Williams F1He will team up with Colombian Salim Hanna and Latvian Tomass Stolcermanis, who returns to the team with which he made his single-seater debut in 2023.

Like the other top teams, the French team ART Grand Prix has completed its lineup. Monegasque driver Mattéo Giaccardi, who will be competing in the French F4 Championship in 2025, and Kabir Anurag – a Singaporean driver supported by the French driver development program – have joined the team. Alpine – will be part of the French team, aiming to surpass the results of Evan Giltaire or Taito Kato in 2025. French F4 champion in 2025, Alexandre Munoz will be the team's most anticipated driver due to his status. His rival from last year, Jules Roussel, has joined CL Motorsport, as have Enea Frey and Reno Francot.

Finally, MP Motorsport unveiled its three drivers: Kazakh Alexander Abkhazava and Chinese Zhenrui Chi will partner Sebastian Wheldon. The son of the late Dan Wheldon had initially signed for Prema before switching to MP.

ALSO READ > Frenchman Andrea Dupe joins Van Amersfoort Racing

FREC (European Regional Formula)
The grid for the 2026 season

• R-ace GP: 🇦🇪 Rashid Al-Dhaheri / 🇯🇵 Yuki Sano / 🇮🇹 Emanuele Olivieri
• Prema Racing: 🇨🇴 Salim Hanna / 🇱🇻​ Tomass Stolcermanis /🇬🇧 Kean Nakamura-Berta
• Van Amersfoort Racing: 🇫🇷 Andrea Dupé / 🇮🇳 Dion Gowda / 🇵🇹 Francisco Macedo
• ART Grand Prix: 🇸🇬 Kabir Anurag / 🇲🇨 Matteo Giaccardi / 🇫🇷 Alexandre Munoz
• Trident: 🇮🇳 Kai Daryanani / 🇷🇸 Andrija Kostić / 🇮🇹 Maximilian Popov
• MP Motorsport: 🇰🇿​ Alexander Abkhazava / 🇨🇳​ Zhenrui Chi/ 🇺🇸 Sebastian Wheldon
• G4 Racing: 🇳🇴 Marcus Sæter / 🇰🇼 Saqer Almaosherji / 🇺🇸 Rahim Alibhai
• Rodin Motorsport: 🇦🇺 Alex Ninovic / 🇬🇧 Reza Seewooruthun / 🇧🇷 Gabriel Gomez
• RPM : 🇵🇱 Jan Przyrowski / 🇧🇷 Miguel Costa / 🇮🇹 Giovanni Maschio
• CL Motorsport: 🇫🇷 Jules Roussel / 🇨🇭 Enea Frey / 🇳🇱 Reno Francot