The FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) has confirmed three post-season tests for September, with all ten teams set to participate as preparations begin for the 2027 campaign.
Hockenheim will host the opening two-day test on September 15–16, only days after the German circuit stages the eighth and final round of the 2026 season. The championship will then travel to Circuit Paul Ricard and the Red Bull Ring for two further tests later in the month.
Alongside providing an early opportunity to evaluate drivers and begin work towards 2027, the programme will also give teams their final preparation before the FIA Formula Regional World Cup in Macau. The championship’s new second-generation cars will make their competitive debut on the Guia Circuit from November 19–22.
Hockenheim opens post-season programme
FREC will begin its post-season running at Hockenheim on September 15–16.
The timing gives teams little opportunity to pause after the championship finale, which takes place at the same circuit only days earlier. Instead, they will immediately switch their attention from the closing stages of the 2026 title battle towards preparation for the following season.
That proximity should also give teams recent data from the circuit before the test begins. However, the objectives will change considerably as they evaluate potential 2027 drivers and begin longer-term development programmes.
Hockenheim therefore provides a natural starting point for the post-season schedule, allowing all ten teams to continue running immediately after completing the championship campaign.
Paul Ricard hosts second two-day test
One week later, the championship will travel to France for its second post-season test.
Circuit Paul Ricard will host two days of running on September 22–23. The venue already forms part of the 2026 FREC calendar, giving teams another familiar circuit on which to compare drivers and assess their early preparations for the following year.
The additional test will also allow teams to build on information gathered at Hockenheim rather than relying on a single evaluation event.
For prospective drivers, the programme creates another opportunity to gain Formula Regional mileage and demonstrate their pace across different circuit characteristics. Meanwhile, existing drivers can use the running to continue their development or prepare for further opportunities.
Red Bull Ring completes September testing
The final post-season test will take place at the Red Bull Ring on September 29–30.
The Austrian circuit opened the 2026 championship in April and will now complete FREC’s official post-season programme almost six months later.
Its combination of long straights, heavy braking zones and relatively short lap should provide a different test from Hockenheim and Paul Ricard. Therefore, teams will finish September with information collected across three distinct venues.
The Red Bull Ring test also brings the programme to a close before attention turns fully towards Macau in November.
Tests begin preparations for 2027
All ten championship teams will participate in the three events as they begin shaping their 2027 programmes.
Post-season testing traditionally gives teams an opportunity to assess prospective drivers before confirming future line-ups. Equally, drivers can experience the championship environment, work with engineers and compare themselves against others aiming to secure seats for the following season.
The six total days of running should therefore play an important role in determining the shape of the 2027 grid.
Teams will also have the chance to begin technical preparations and establish working relationships before the winter period. With each test taking place only one week apart, the schedule creates a concentrated three-week evaluation programme.
Macau adds further importance to testing schedule
The September tests will carry additional significance because they precede the FIA Formula Regional World Cup in Macau.
The event will take place from November 19–22 on the Guia Circuit and will mark the competitive debut of Formula Regional’s new second-generation cars.
As a result, the three post-season tests represent the final official preparation period before teams head to one of the most demanding street circuits in international junior single-seater racing.
Macau’s narrow barriers, elevation changes and long straights create a challenge unlike the permanent circuits used during the regular FREC season. Therefore, teams will look to maximise every opportunity available before heading to the World Cup.
The event will also provide the first competitive showcase for the new generation of Formula Regional machinery, adding further significance to the end-of-season development programme.
2026 FREC post-season testing schedule
- Hockenheim, Germany — September 15–16
- Circuit Paul Ricard, France — September 22–23
- Red Bull Ring, Austria — September 29–30
FREC teams face busy end to 2026
The confirmed testing schedule ensures that FREC teams will face a busy September immediately after completing the championship season.
Hockenheim will move almost directly from hosting the title decider into the opening post-season test. Paul Ricard follows one week later before the Red Bull Ring concludes the programme at the end of the month.
Those six days will give teams their first opportunity to focus fully on 2027 while also preparing for the Formula Regional World Cup in Macau.
With all ten teams participating and the second-generation cars set to make their competitive debut later in the year, the post-season tests will form an important bridge between the end of the 2026 championship and the next phase of Formula Regional competition.
