Macau: Formula Regionals will debut in 2024, replacing F3

This season’s Macau Grand Prix starts with something new which, however, has the flavor of a return to the past. Starting from the edition which will take place as per tradition in the last months of the year, the Formula Regional single-seaters will make their debut, thus taking part for the first time in the most prestigious race in the world of the preparatory categories managed by the FIA.

Although this is an absolute debut, in reality there is an aftertaste of the past, because some time ago it was the “old” F3 cars that took to the track on the renowned Guia Circuit, the progenitors of the current Formula Regional cars. In 2018, as part of the reorganization of the competitions managed by the FIA, in particular those that follow F1 during the world championship, the old GP3 became F3, unlike the old F3, which took on the new name of Formula Regional.

This has had an impact on all regional championships linked to that category, such as the Asian or British, which have undergone a renaming to adapt to the new path chosen by the governing body. Formula Regional aims to bridge the gap between the various national Formula 4 series and the global FIA Formula 3 championship, which takes place as part of selected Formula 1 Grands Prix.

There are in fact some differences between Formula Regional and Formula 3, starting from the power of the cars involved in the two championships. This is one of the reasons that pushed the Federation to make a change of course, including the fact that several drivers over the years have suggested that the F3 cars are perhaps too fast for Macau, but there are other reasons too.

There are currently five different FIA-certified Formula Regional series held around the world (Americas, Europe, Japan, Middle East and Oceania) and there are approximately 92 drivers competing worldwide in 2024. This will give the opportunity for teams to have a larger and more accessible pool from which to fish for its own racers, also because in recent years there has been no shortage of drivers making their F3 debut in Macau, such as Ugo Ugochukwu.

Francois Sicard, FIASingle-Seater Strategy & Operations Director, explained the decision: “Bringing the Formula Regional cars to Macau for the FIA ​​World Cup is a natural consequence of the evolution of the junior single-seater landscape over the last two years and is a logical step in the pyramid of the racing world”.

“The Macau Formula 3 race has built its legendary reputation as an event that brought together the best junior drivers from national series from around the world on what is the most challenging street circuit in the world. The move to Regional Formula cars revives this spirit and represents an optimal long-term solution for FIA-sanctioned competition in Macau.”