Photo: ACI Sport
The 2027 Formula Regional European Championship grid now features four drivers, following recent signings by three teams.
Williams Formula 1 junior Bondarev contested the final two rounds of this season with Van Amersfoort Racing, and will join R-ace GP for his 2027 campaign.
He made a splash on his FREC debut at Imola, finishing second on his start then winning from pole in his third. His points tally from two weekends was enough to come 15th in the standings.
The 17-year-old Ukrainian’s primary focus this year has been Formula 4, in which he has won the UAE4 title, came eighth in E4 and sits 17th in its sister Italian F4 championship as a part-timer in both.
“I’m really happy to be joining R-ace GP for my rookie season in FREC, while continuing to be supported by the Williams Racing Driver Academy,” he said of his 2027 plans.
“FRegional will be a new challenge, but one I’m especially looking forward to, particularly after taking a pole position and a race win in the final two rounds of last season.”
Costa is joining reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris’s LN4 Fusion team which was founded last month. He is one of its first signings.
Single-seater sophomore Costa spent 2025 racing in Spanish F4, and started on a high by coming eighth in the Winter Championship with one podium. In the main championship, he was only 14th in the points table and his best result was a fourth place.
The 17-year-old Brazilian stepped up to FRegional this year with Race Performance Motorsport, taking one podium en route to 15th in FRegional Middle East and 23rd in FREC.
“From the first time I met them, I could feel how professional and motivated everyone is,” was Costa’s evaluation of how one of single-seaters’ newest teams operates. “I’m really looking forward to working with them and seeing what we can achieve together.”
Lima will graduates from VAR’s F4 line-up for 2027. After racing on home soil in Brazilian F4 last year and winning twice en route to third in the standings, he relocated his career to Europe for a triple F4 programme this year. It began with 10th in the Iberia-based Formula Winter Series, followed by a points-free 43rd in E4 and an Italian F4 campaign which has so far only featured one top-10 finish.
“Stepping up to FREC with VAR next year is a massive step forward in my career,” he stated. “As the competition sharpens, I’m fully committed to pushing my limits and bringing strong results to the team. It will be a challenging season, but definitely a pivotal one for my journey.”
VAR’s team principal Brad Joyce said “we have seen [Lima] make good progress throughout the season, and we’re looking forward to building on that in FREC. Moving up will be another significant step, but having that continuity with the same team will be a real advantage as he adapts to the new car and championship.”