Indian racing driver Ary Bansal will compete in the 2026 FIA Formula Regional (FR) World Cup at the Macau Grand Prix, joining Trident for the prestigious international single-seater event. The 16-year-old will return to the Guia Circuit from 19–22 November after finishing fifth in last year’s FIA Formula 4 World Cup.
Bansal, who will be the youngest competitor on the 26-driver grid according to his team’s announcement, joins the Italian squad following a successful 2026 campaign across several junior single-seater championships. He currently occupies third in the Italian F4 Championship, having secured two victories and six podium finishes, while his previous achievements include winning the 2025 GB4 Championship and British F4 Challenge Cup.
Trident has also confirmed Polish driver Tymek Kucharczyk as Bansal’s teammate, completing its two-car line-up for the 73rd Macau Grand Prix. The pair will compete against an international field featuring Formula Regional champions, FIA Formula 3 competitors and several drivers supported by Formula 1 development programmes.
Bansal returns to Macau with Trident
Bansal will make his second consecutive appearance at Macau, having gained valuable experience at the Guia Circuit during the inaugural FIA F4 World Cup in November 2025. The Indian driver finished fifth overall in that event, demonstrating his ability to compete against leading international talent on one of motorsport’s most demanding street circuits.
However, his latest appearance presents a different challenge as he steps up from Formula 4 to the more powerful Formula Regional machinery. The 2026 FIA FR World Cup will introduce the second-generation Tatuus T-326, which features revised aerodynamics, updated safety systems and new technical developments intended to improve racing.
Bansal has already gained some familiarity with Formula Regional machinery, including testing with Trident and an appearance in the FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) at Hockenheim. Nevertheless, Macau will provide another opportunity to develop his experience while competing against an exceptionally strong international field.
Furthermore, the Guia Circuit’s narrow sections, high-speed corners and unforgiving barriers create a unique challenge for drivers. Unlike permanent circuits, the demanding street layout offers little margin for error, placing considerable importance on precision, confidence and consistency throughout the event.
Bansal’s previous Macau experience could therefore prove valuable as he prepares to compete in a higher category at a venue where he has already achieved a top-five result.
2025 GB4 Championship success establishes Bansal’s credentials
Bansal enters the FIA FR World Cup with an impressive record in British junior single-seater competition, having secured the 2025 GB4 Championship with Elite Motorsport.
The Indian driver concluded the season with 402 points, four victories and 11 podium finishes, overcoming a closely contested championship battle against teammate Isaac Phelps and Hillspeed’s Daniel Guinchard.
The title remained undecided until the season finale at Donington Park, where Bansal delivered a crucial victory in the penultimate race before securing third in the final contest. His performance ultimately gave him an 11-point advantage over Phelps and Guinchard, who finished level on 391 points.
The achievement also represented a significant milestone for Elite Motorsport, which secured its first GB4 Drivers’ Championship title alongside the Teams’ Championship.
Meanwhile, Bansal combined his GB4 campaign with selected appearances in British F4, where he competed with Fortec Motorsport. His performances earned him the 2025 British F4 Challenge Cup, adding another championship to his growing collection of junior single-seater achievements.
The successes provided a strong foundation for his subsequent move into European Formula 4 competition, where he has continued developing his racecraft against larger international fields.
Strong 2026 Italian F4 campaign continues Bansal’s progress
Bansal carried his championship-winning momentum into 2026 after joining US Racing for a full European Formula 4 programme.
The Indian driver began the year by competing in the Formula Winter Series, where he finished third overall with two victories and three additional podium finishes. His performances provided an encouraging start to the season before he turned his attention towards the Italian F4 and E4 championships.
Bansal subsequently established himself among the leading competitors in Italian F4, one of Europe’s most competitive entry-level single-seater categories. With six of the seven rounds complete, he occupies third in the Drivers’ Championship with 296 points, having recorded two race victories and six podium finishes.
His results also reflect the progress he has made since winning GB4, particularly as he adapts to different circuits, more experienced competitors and the demands of racing in multiple championships.
Meanwhile, Bansal has gained further experience through the E4 Championship, where he finished sixth overall and claimed one victory. The additional racing opportunities have allowed him to broaden his experience while continuing his development towards higher single-seater categories.
As outlined in Pit Debrief’s guide to the 2026 Italian F4 Championship, the series features a highly competitive international grid and plays an important role in preparing young drivers for Formula Regional competition.
Consequently, Bansal will arrive in Macau with considerably more experience than during his first appearance in 2025, having completed another extensive season of single-seater racing.
Trident confirms Bansal and Kucharczyk for 2026 Macau Grand Prix
Trident will field Bansal alongside 20-year-old Polish driver Tymek Kucharczyk, who brings experience from several international single-seater championships.
Kucharczyk previously competed in GB3, Euroformula Open and Indy NXT, securing victories and championship podium finishes during his progression through the junior motorsport ladder.
He also has previous experience at the Guia Circuit, having competed in the 2025 FIA FR World Cup. The Pole recovered from 24th on the grid to finish 13th in last year’s Main Race, giving him valuable experience ahead of his return with Trident.
The combination provides the Italian squad with two drivers who have previously competed at Macau, although their backgrounds differ considerably. While Bansal arrives following his success in Formula 4, Kucharczyk brings experience from more powerful machinery and higher categories.
Furthermore, Trident enters the event with an established presence across international single-seater racing, including FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3 and Formula Regional competition.
The team will now aim to build on its drivers’ previous Macau experience as it prepares to challenge a competitive 26-car field.
Bansal delighted to represent India at historic Macau Grand Prix
Following Trident’s official announcement, Bansal expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the Guia Circuit and representing India in the FIA FR World Cup.
The 16-year-old highlighted his appreciation for Macau’s distinctive characteristics, particularly its demanding layout and the atmosphere surrounding the historic event.
“I’m excited to be joining Trident for the FIA FR World Cup in Macau. It’s a fantastic feeling to compete at one of motorsport’s most iconic venues. The Guia Circuit is one of my favourite tracks to race at, with an atmosphere and a level of challenge unlike anywhere else.
“Representing India at such a historic event makes this Grand Prix even more special, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to maximise our performance over the weekend.”
His return also represents another milestone in his progression through international motorsport. Having previously competed at Macau in Formula 4 machinery, Bansal will now seek to build on that result while facing more experienced competitors in Formula Regional.
Macau prepares for competitive 2026 FIA FR World Cup
The 2026 FIA FR World Cup will feature 26 drivers representing 13 teams, with every competitor using the new Tatuus T-326 Formula Regional car.
The entry list includes newly crowned FIA FREC champion Emanuele Olivieri, championship runner-up Sebastian Wheldon and third-place finisher Kean Nakamura-Berta. Several drivers with FIA F3 experience will also participate, including Enzo Deligny, Hiyu Yamakoshi, Alex Powell and Taito Kato.
Furthermore, the field features Eurocup-3 champion James Egozi and Super Formula Lights champion Evan Giltaire, bringing together competitors from several different junior single-seater categories.
The competition forms part of the 73rd Macau Grand Prix, which will take place from 19–22 November. The event will also include the FIA F4 World Cup, FIA GT World Cup and Kumho FIA TCR World Tour, creating another major international motorsport weekend.
For Bansal, the event represents an opportunity to measure his progress against leading drivers from around the world while continuing his transition towards higher categories.
Having already secured the GB4 Championship, British F4 Challenge Cup and multiple Formula 4 victories, the Indian driver will now aim to build on his fifth-place finish from 2025 as he returns to one of motorsport’s most challenging circuits with Trident.
