The second-generation Formula Regional cars from Tatuus and Ligier have been revealed, while the FIA has announced a change to superlicence points allocation in the category.
Ligier Advanced Technologies, formerly known as Mygale before Ligier became its majority owner at the end of 2024, has produced the Ligier JS F326 which will be built with assistance from Ligier Automotive North America.
At 575kg, the successor to the Ligier JS F3 is over 50kg lighter with its carbon monocoque, and it features a push-to-pass system, is compatible with multiple engine designs and therefore sustainable fuels and hybrid systems.
Safety gains Ligier has put into the design include increased load capacity for the rollhoop, full length side anti-intrusion panels, a reinforced seat bulkhead and “ultra-flat aluminum front panel for improved energy absorption”. There are also other features required by FIA regulations, such as the halo, quick-release front and rear crashboxes and dual wheel tethers.
So far the car has undergone development testing at French circuit Magny-Cours, and the engineers involved in that will be trackside for championships that adopt the car in future seasons.
Ligier Advanced Technologies’ CEO Bertrand Decoster said “the use of new materials and innovative design techniques allowed us to reach the FIA minimum weight while improving comfort and accessibility for young drivers” and that “we also focused on reducing steering torque and braking effort, and on optimising aerodynamics to encourage closer racing”.
The FRegional European Championship paddock retired its Tatuus T-318s in last weekend’s season finale at Monza, where the Tatuus T-326 was publicly unveiled after its yet-to-be homologated design was revealed this February.
It will be FREC’s new car from 2026 onwards, and is lighter than its predecessor, designed to be “more stable, and more responsive, featuring an improved chassis architecture and a revised suspension system that enhances steering precision and overall balance through corners”. Downforce levels will increase, with aerodynamic styling that means a reduced wake effect.
FREC will run it on Pirelli tyres, and use the ATM163T engine. It has been developed by Italian firm Autotecnica and TOM’S in Japan, and is derived from the Toyota G16E unit used in the GR Yaris road car. It will be FRegional’s first three-cylinder engine.
Safety improvements with the carbon fibre chassis include “new-design front and rear crash boxes, anti-intrusion panels, and a revised rollover protection system”. It has already tested on track, and will succeed the T-318 in FRegional Middle East too.
FRME switches from a championship to a trophy format in 2026, meaning it will go from issuing FIA superlicence points to the top nine in the standings on a 18-14-12-10-6-4-3-2-1 basis to instead either rewarding the top six (6-5-4-3-2-1) or the top four (4-3-2-1).
Making the same format change is FRegional Oceania and the FIA has stated it will go from issuing superlicence points to the top nine to instead having its top six drivers be points eligible.
Eurocup-3, currently FRegional-based and with no superlicence eligiblity, will become a third-tier single-seater series in 2026 by using the ‘new’ Dallara 326 car. The FIA will recognise this upgrade by granting Eurocup-3’s top five drivers superlicence points on a 10-7-5-3-1 basis.