ART Grand Prix has announced that Matteo Giaccardi will step up to Formula Regional competition in 2026, joining the team for both the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) and the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy (FRME). The move marks a significant milestone in the career of the 18-year-old Monegasque driver as he continues his progression through the single-seater ranks.
Progression from Formula 4 to the next level
Giaccardi arrives at ART Grand Prix following a constructive season in the French Formula 4 Championship, where he demonstrated steady improvement and growing confidence throughout the year. Most notably, he secured victory in one of the three races at the final round at Le Mans, a result that underlined his competitive race pace.
He concluded the season just outside the top ten in the standings, but his consistent learning curve and ability to deliver strong performances across multiple events positioned him as a promising prospect ready for the next challenge.
A crucial development step in Formula Regional
The transition to Formula Regional represents a key phase in Giaccardi’s development. Competing in both the European and Middle East championships in 2026 will expose him to a highly competitive field, a wide range of circuits, and varying track and climate conditions. Therefore, through these dual programmes, Giaccardi will focus on building experience, refining his technical understanding, and delivering consistent performances as he adapts to faster cars and more complex race environments.
ART Grand Prix focused on development; Giaccardi motivated
ART Grand Prix Team Principal Sébastien Philippe highlighted the importance of the step up and the objectives for the season ahead.
“Matteo is at an important point in his development. He has shown encouraging progress in Formula 4 and now needs to take this next step in Formula Regional. The objective will be to keep learning, build experience, and work consistently with the team to move forward throughout the season.”
Giaccardi expressed pride and motivation as he prepares for the challenge of competing with one of the most respected teams in junior single-seater racing, partnering with Kabir Anurag.
“I’m really proud to be part of ART Grand Prix for the 2026 Formula Regional Championship. My main target this season is to learn and improve all year long!”
With a strong foundation built in Formula 4 and a clear development plan in place, Matteo Giaccardi now turns his focus to the demands of Formula Regional racing. Partnering with ART Grand Prix for both FREC and FRMEC provides him with an ideal environment to accelerate his learning and measure himself against some of the most competitive young drivers on the international stage.
