The FIA Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) will expand from eight to 10 rounds in 2027, with Portimão and Silverstone joining the schedule and Barcelona returning for the championship’s second season under full FIA status.
The expansion follows an unpredictable inaugural FIA campaign in 2026, when 11 different drivers claimed victories and the Drivers’ Championship remained undecided until the final race at Hockenheim. The 2026 FREC season featured a four-way title battle and victories across much of the grid as teams adapted to the new-generation Tatuus T-326.
Alongside the additional rounds, the FIA and Automobile Club d’Italia will introduce a consistent two-race format at every event. That replaces the varying structure used during 2026, when some weekends featured three races and included a reverse-grid contest.
2027 FIA Formula Regional European Championship calendar
- 9-11 April: Autodromo do Algarve, Portimão, Portugal
- 23-25 April: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria
- 14-16 May: Silverstone Circuit, Great Britain
- 18-20 June: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
- 16-18 July: Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France
- 30 July-1 August: Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary*
- 6-8 August: Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands
- 10-12 September: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy
- 24-26 September: Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy
- 8-10 October: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
* The Hungaroring round remains subject to contract.
Portimão opens expanded 2027 campaign
Portimão will host the season opener from 9-11 April and make its first appearance on the FIA FREC calendar. The championship will race alongside the International GT Open before travelling directly to Austria for Round 2 at the Red Bull Ring from 23-25 April.
The Austrian event returns after forming part of the eight-round 2026 FREC calendar and will take place as part of the DTM weekend. The first two rounds therefore combine a new venue with one already familiar to teams from the championship’s first FIA season.
Silverstone then becomes the second new circuit to join the championship when it hosts Round 3 from 14-16 May. Its addition gives drivers another high-speed challenge while also extending the range of Formula 1 venues included within the Formula Regional schedule.
FIA Single-Seater Commission President Emanuele Pirro believes the expansion builds on the competitive foundation established during 2026 while also responding to feedback from those involved in the championship.
“The success of FIA FREC’s inaugural season, with 11 different winners, has given us a strong foundation for 2027. Expanding to 10 rounds responds to the wishes of the teams, while the revised weekend format and the spacing between events reflect feedback from drivers, teams and partners.”
Consistent two-race format replaces 2026 variations
The championship will also simplify its sporting structure in 2027. Every event will feature two qualifying sessions and two races, creating the same format across all 10 rounds.
That represents a change from 2026, when the series used different structures throughout the campaign. Some events featured three races, including a reverse-grid contest, while others followed a more traditional two-race schedule.
The revised approach should give teams and drivers a more consistent framework across the season, while the expansion from eight to 10 rounds will also create a more regular rhythm between events. The first FIA season demonstrated how much the varying formats could influence a tightly fought championship, with the title eventually remaining open until the final race at Hockenheim.
Spa and Paul Ricard return before Hungaroring F1 support slot
After Silverstone, FIA FREC will return to Spa-Francorchamps from 18-20 June. The Belgian circuit will host Round 4 during SRO SpeedWeek, giving the championship more than a month between its British and Belgian events.
Paul Ricard follows from 16-18 July as part of another International GT Open weekend. The French circuit also featured on the 2026 schedule and begins a busy summer period that includes three rounds within four weeks.
The most prominent event of that stretch could come at the Hungaroring from 30 July-1 August. Subject to contract, FIA FREC will race in support of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, placing its drivers and teams on one of the largest stages of the season.
Pirro highlighted the opportunity that the Formula 1 support slot could provide for young drivers and the personnel developing alongside them.
“While the round is subject to contract, the chance to race alongside Formula 1 at the Hungaroring will give our drivers, mechanics and engineers an invaluable opportunity to showcase their potential on one of the sport’s biggest stages.”
Zandvoort follows only one week later from 6-8 August, with the Dutch circuit again joining the DTM programme. Six of the 10 circuits on the 2027 FIA FREC calendar also feature on the Formula 1 schedule, increasing the amount of experience drivers can gain at venues used at the highest level of single-seater racing.
Imola and Monza form Italian double-header after summer break
The championship will pause after Zandvoort before returning for its two Italian rounds in September. Imola hosts Round 8 from 10-12 September before Monza follows two weeks later from 24-26 September, with both events taking place as part of ACI Racing Weekends.
Both circuits return from the 2026 campaign. Imola produced one of the standout stories of the inaugural FIA season when Oleksandr Bondarev completed a remarkable debut by taking victory in the third race of the Imola weekend, becoming another new winner during an unusually competitive championship.
ACI Sport General Manager Mario Isola emphasised the role that the two home events will play as ACI continues to organise and promote the series alongside the FIA.
“The FIA Formula Regional European Championship plays an important role in developing the next generation of single-seater talent. Working closely with the FIA, ACI Sport is committed to giving drivers and teams a strong sporting platform as the championship grows to 10 rounds in 2027.”
He also highlighted the significance of keeping both major Italian venues on the schedule.
“We are also proud that Imola and Monza, two circuits with a special place in Italian motorsport, will host the championship as part of the ACI Racing Weekends.”
Barcelona returns to host 2027 finale
Barcelona will return to the Formula Regional European calendar and host the final round from 8-10 October. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya previously featured in the category before the championship entered its new FIA era in 2026 and now returns as the setting for the second FIA season finale.
The Spanish event will once again run alongside the International GT Open and replaces Hockenheim as the championship decider. The German circuit produced a dramatic conclusion to 2026, with four drivers remaining mathematically involved before the final weekend and the championship staying open until Race 2.
Barcelona therefore becomes the third addition compared with the 2026 schedule, although unlike Portimão and Silverstone it represents a return rather than a completely new destination.
The broader 10-round championship retains much of the foundation established in 2026 while giving drivers additional races and a more consistent sporting structure. With two new circuits, Barcelona’s return, a potential Formula 1 support appearance and the same two-race format at every event, FIA FREC will enter its second season with a considerably expanded programme.
