FRECA, or 'Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine', if you prefer to give things their full titles, returns at Imola this weekend with plenty excitement expected for the young drivers, many of which we could see step up to FIA Formula 3 in 2024.
I'm happy to say I've been able to chat with series commentator Chris McCarthy for this segment and quiz him on 5 points of interest ahead of the new season beginning at Imola this weekend.
📸 FRECA cars peel out of the Imola pit lane.
Let's get straight into it!
1. In your opinion, who are the title favourites? During pre-season testing there have been 6 drivers who have been in the top 10 in all 3 tests. They were Kas Haverkort (VAR), Tim Tramnitz (R-ace GP), Roman Bilinski (Trident), Mace Capietto (RPM), Santiago Ramos (RPM) and Andrea Kimi Antonelli (PREMA). I think these 6 drivers along with Rafael Camara (PREMA), who was quickest in the last two tests, definitely stand out as the main contenders in an incredibly talented 32 car field.
📸 Chris has tipped all these drivers to be in title contention.
Top row, left to right: Kas Haverkort, Tim Tramnitz, Roman Bilinski.
Bottom row, left to right: Santiago Ramos, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Rafael Camara.
If I had to narrow it down then I'd say firstly Andrea Kimi Antonelli comes in as the title favorite for many and deservedly so. The Mercedes Junior has just won the Formula Regional Middle East title and won both the Italian and ADAC F4 titles last year along with the FIA Motorsport Games F4 Cup all in his first full season of single seater racing so he knows how to get up to speed quickly!
Secondly, Kas Haverkort comes in as top seed after 5th place last season and the only driver to have a win and pole position to his name. I think most would agree he should be racing in FIA Formula 3 this year so he'll be taking no prisoners this season and proved he can get his elbows out with a stunning victory at Red Bull Ring last year when he came from 14th on the grid!
Then thirdly Tim Tramnitz, he spent most of last season recovering from a broken vertebrae. Now seemingly back to full fitness and with a race winning team I see the former Italian and ADAC F4 Vice Champion as someone who will be very fast this year and he's looked very impressive in testing so far.
📸 If it's down to one, it's Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
2. Who is your 'one to watch'? From what we've seen one driver to watch could be Alessandro Giusti. He comes in as the French F4 champion, and although he is the sole driver in the G4 Racing team he seemed to be able to quickly find his feet in FRECA and put in a fantastic first test in particular finishing 8th overall. Not having teammates to share data with is not something I see lasting all season, so when those seats are eventually filled if Giusti is able to reflect that pace we were shown in testing then he could most definitely be a regular visitor to the points and maybe even to the podium as a rookie winner.
📸 French racer Alessandro Giusti comes to FRECA a champion.
He comes in as a champion which will give him a huge amount of confidence and being a solo car makes him a bit of an underdog giving him, and the team, nothing to lose and I think that will only help boost his confidence even more!
📸 Alessandro Giusti.
3. Who will be the top rookie by the end of the season? This is a very tough one to call. We have 9 talented rookies and it's easy to put a case for why they could all be up there on any weekend.
📸 Marcus Amand, Sauber Junior.
However, if I had to pick one I would go for Marcus Amand from ART Grand Prix. The team had a fantastic year last season taking Gabriele Mini to 2nd in the championship and now welcome the reigning Formula Regional Oceania Champion in Charlie Wurz along with keeping Laurens Van Hoepen. I think that success will really help Marcus get up to speed quickly and that's already been demonstrated in testing with Marcus keeping Charlie very honest. I remember Marcus from his Karting days, a hugely successful driver beating Antonelli to the European title in 2019. His rise through the ranks has seen him taken on by the Sauber Academy this year like his countrymen Theo Pourchaire and I think that recognition will give Marcus the confidence to go and fight, and possibly win, this rookie title. That said, it is a very tough one to call!
📸 Could Amand reach the same level of success as fellow countryman Theo Pourchaire?
4. What driver are you most excited about? I can't say I'm excited about one driver more than all the others. I can't wait to get back in the paddock and meet the new drivers as well as catch up with the returning ones too!
The talk has much been around Andrea Kimi Antonelli with his success and Mercedes backing, but one driver that does excite me is another F1 backed driver in Maya Weug who will be racing with KIC Motorsport. Maya is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and has been impressive racing for Iron Dames in Italian F4. Some will be surprised not to see her in the F1 Academy, but I think that's only a benefit to FRECA and I'm very excited to see how she gets on. She is a real rising star and if fans haven't heard of her just yet then that will no doubt change over the next couple of seasons.
📸 Ferrari's Maya Weug.
5. Which race are you the most excited for? Most definitely it is our new circuit Hockenheim! It comes in to replace Monaco this season which many will see as a bad thing but for me I'm excited to see it added in.
📸 Hockenheim will play host to FRECA this year.
I was fortunate enough to be invited to commentate at the circuit by Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019 and 2020 when Oscar Piastri and Victor Martins won the titles and they were some of the best single seater races I have commentated on to this day! With the element of the push to pass added in and the fact it is out season finale will make it an event you do not want to miss.
📸 Oscar Piastri(above) was the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup champion.
Away from the racing, it is a track with very special memories for me personally. It was my first time being asked to go and commentate on a single seater race so I'll always have fond memories and going back will be a very special experience.
Thanks Chris for getting involved with the blog once again and previewing FRECA! It's going to be a highly competitive, entertaining and exciting series to keep tabs on with a number possibly ready for F3 next year!
📸 Image credits: Formula Regional European Championship, FFSA Academy, Renault Sport, Sky Sports, Maya Weug, Mercedes AMG F1 Team, Marcus Amand, Formula Motorsport Limited.
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