The entry list for the 2024 FIA Formula Regional World Cup in Macau has been officially confirmed as of today, October 22. A total of 27 drivers representing 15 different nationalities will compete in the prestigious Macau Grand Prix on November 17.
“I am really happy to see so many of the most talented junior drivers and teams committed to the FIA FR World Cup,” Emanuele Pirro, President of the FIA Single-Seater Committee, said. This event has always been one of the toughest and more rewarding challenges on the pathway for young drivers as they progress towards the ultimate goal of Formula 1 and our other FIA World Championships, and to have so many different former champions of F4 and Formula Regional coming to Macau really brings the spirit of this historic race. I will be watching the weekend very closely, with a bit of nostalgia, and I am sure the same is true for all the Formula 1 teams.”
Competitors from countries including Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macau, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States will showcase their talents as they aim to make a mark on the global stage.
This diverse lineup continues the rich tradition of the iconic event as participants seek to add their names to the list of renowned drivers who have successfully navigated the challenging streets of Macau.
In this latest edition of the premier junior single-seater event, drivers from various Formula Regional championships have been confirmed, following the transition to Formula Regional machinery. This development was announced during the official pre-event press conference in Macau.
Representatives from the FR Americas, European, Japanese, Middle East, and Oceania championships are participating, marking the return of teams and drivers from domestic Japanese series to Macau for the first time since 2018. Among them, 2023 FR Japanese Champion Sota Ogawa is expected to be a notable contender.
The roster includes a number of accomplished drivers who have progressed through the FIA’s junior pathway, from FIA Karting to FIA-certified Formula 4 Championships and subsequently, Formula Regional.
Macau Grand Prix continues to enhance its legacy in the FIA Formula Renault World Cup
The FR category has established itself as a crucial step towards the FIA Formula One World Championship. For instance, 2023 Formula Regional European Champion Kimi Antonelli is set to join Mercedes F1 as a driver in 2025. Every current Formula 1 team has junior drivers participating in a Formula Regional championship, with five competitors at this year’s FR World Cup being affiliated with these programs.
Dino Beganovic, a former FRECA champion and member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, is joined by fellow F1 junior drivers Alexander Dunne (McLaren Driver Development Programme), Oliver Goethe (Red Bull Junior Team), Tuukka Taponen (Ferrari Driver Academy), and Ugo Ugochukwu (McLaren Driver Development Programme).
In addition to these F1 juniors and FR champions, a minimum of nine FIA Formula 4 Champions from 2023 will be competing in the FR World Cup. This includes F4 Spanish Champion Théophile Nael, F4 Indian Champion Cooper Webster, F4 Chinese Champion Tiago Rodrigues, F4 Japanese Champion Rikuto Kobayashi, F4 French Champion Evan Giltaire, F4 UAE Champion James Wharton, and F4 NACAM and US Champion Noel Leon.
The FIA Formula Regional World Cup will take place from November 14 to 17, featuring two practice sessions and two qualifying sessions that will determine the grid for the Qualification Race. This race will, in turn, establish the final grid for the Macau Grand Prix, the ultimate honor of the weekend.
Photo/FIA/X