Photo: Petr Fryba
The ACCR Formula 4 championship has rebranded to F4 Central European Zone after receiving certification from the FIA to become one of its zonal championships.
Launched last year as a new series for second-generation F4 cars but also open to drivers with first-generation machines, ACCR F4 ended up being classified as a trophy rather than a series due to it being absorbed into other racing series and also becoming dependant on its Gen1 entries.
However for 2023 it has achieved its goal of having entry lists only consisting of Gen2 cars, which then made it possible to get FIA certification. Round one took place at the Hungaroring last month with six drivers, then the entry list grew to 10 cars at the Red Bull Ring last weekend. There are four more rounds scheduled in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
“The ACCR Czech Formula Series, the new F4 championship for Central and Eastern Europe has received certification status by the FIA, the world’s governing body for motorsport this week,” read the series announcement.
“In an official reception, series organiser Josef Krenek received the news from JUDr Jan Stovicek, president of the Autoklub of the Czech Republic in Prague.
“The series will now change its name to F4 CEZ Championship, however, both race weekends held prior to the announcement will continue to count for the championship.”
Formula Scout understands that the proposal to rebrand the series after its zonal championship recognition came from FIA itself, and that Krenek took decision to begin the season while the certification was still being negotiated between the FIA and ACCR in order not to sacrifice 2023 season.
There is already a long-running FIA CEZ Formula 3 series, although that has acted more as a club series and opportunity to race higher level single-seaters in the Central European Zone rather than as an alternative to other F3 series on the pathway to Formula 1.