Massive field for Monza opener
The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine is one of motorsport’s success stories since the merger of the historic Formula Renault Eurocup with the pallid original version of Fregional European for 2021. The organisers had yet to issue an entry list as we went to press, but you can expect up to 40 entries for this weekend’s opening double-header round at Monza.
Massive numbers, yes, but since its inception the Tatuus Regional F3 chassis has forged a reputation for not being conducive to good racing. For 2022, therefore, an Indycar-style push-to-pass system has been introduced. Drivers will be allowed five pushes of the button each race, each giving them 15 seconds of additional engine power. A less-durable Pirelli has also been introduced, although this has not caused noticeable concerns of degradation.
As in the halcyon days of Frenault, the field will now be split into two groups for qualifying, with each getting a chance to run first for the two sessions over an event.
So who will emulate 2021 title winner Gregoire Saucy? The man who finished runner-up to the Swiss, Alpine F1 ‘Affiliate’ Hadrien David, stays on at R-ace GP for his third year at this level. It’s a potent line-up for the French squad, which is also fielding second-year drivers
Gabriel Bortoleto and Lorenzo Fluxa.
The third-placed driver from 2021 also remains in FRECA: Estonian Mercedes F1 junior Paul Aron stays on at Prema Racing alongside Swedish Ferrari protege Dino Beganovic, who was quickest in last week’s final test at Monza. Fastest in the first two tests was Gabriele Mini – the Sicilian remains with ART Grand Prix (the team that ran Saucy in 2021) and lines up with Spaniard Mari Boya. The Dutch teams field Kas Haverkort (Van Amersfoort Racing) and Michael Belov (MP Motorsport), who the governing body will pretend is not Russian by allowing his entry under the FIA flag.
A bunch of Formula 4 stars are moving up. Reigning French champion Esteban Masson is with FA Racing, Spanish title winner Dilano van’t Hoff stays with his home team MP for his step up, and NACAM (Mexico) king Noel Leon races for UK squad Arden as a Red Bull Junior. F4 runners-up include Tim Tramnitz (Italy and Germany) at Trident and Matias Zagazeta (Britain) at G4 Racing, while Maceo Capietto (third in France) is at Monolite Racing – despite his father Guillaume being a Prema chief.
And talking of influential dads, Sebastian Montoya steps up from F4 with Prema, while Eduardo Barrichello joins Arden for his second year in the series.