Four drivers currently participating in Formula 1 Drivers’ Academy programs have been confirmed on the grid for this weekend’s inaugural round of the Formula Regional Asian Championship (FRAC).
Ferrari Driver Academy drivers Arthur Leclerc, Mercedes-backed Paul Aron and Red Bull juniors Jak Crawford and Isack Hadjar have all been announced as part of the 28-man field for the series’ new season. The championship uses Formula 3 cars with less powerful engines than the FIA’s F3 Championship, which supports several Formula 1 races.
Ferrari junior Leclerc will compete for the Mumbai Falcons India Racing team. Charles Leclerc’s brother will join forces with another F1 driver relative, Juan Pablo Montoya’s son Sebastian. He will compete in the first three events of the five-round championship before his place is taken by another Ferrari Driver Academy driver, Oliver Bearman.
Red Bull juniors Crawford and Hadjar will drive for Prema and Hitech respectively. Aron will also join Crawford at Prema. With the exception of Aron, all F1 junior drivers competing in this year’s FRAC will also compete in the upcoming FIA Formula 3 Championship. Newly announced F2 driver Cem Bolukbasi will also compete in the series for Evans GP.
Last year’s FRAC title was won by 2022 Alfa Romeo F1 driver Guanyu Zhou driving for Prema. The series was previously known as the Asian F3 Championship.
The first round of FRAC gets underway this weekend at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit with two days of testing followed by three races at the Grand Prix circuit. The championship will consist of five rounds, all held in the United Arab Emirates, with three events at the Dubai Autodrome taking place between two rounds at Yas Marina at the start and end of the season.
Past alumni of the series include Zhou, Haas F1 driver Nikita Mazepin, Formula 2 drivers Jack Doohan, Jehan Daruvala and Liam Lawson, and two-time W-Series champion Jamie Chadwick. Other regional variants of the junior category include European, Japanese, and American championships.
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