Eurocup-3 general manager Marco Rodríguez explains how the series is positioning itself in an evolving landscape for Formula Regional championships. 

By Juan Arroyo

Eurocup-3 was created in late 2022 by an organising body made up of four Spanish F4 teams, with the objective of having a low-cost alternative at the Formula Regional tier for drivers stepping up from Spain’s lowest single-seater category.

In 2024, the series has experienced visible growth in several areas: it reached a record 30 entries in its latest round – substantially up from its 2023 record of 19 entries – while adding a fifth international round to its eight-event schedule. Saintéloc Racing, as well as Drivex, have expanded to enter additional drivers, with the latter having to enter its satellite name DXR Racing to skirt around series rules allowing a maximum of five cars per team.

While it could be thought that Eurocup-3’s entries are being stolen from its de-facto rivals in Formula Regional Europe, GB3, and Euroformula Open, their entry counts have remained virtually unchanged since the series’ introduction. A core part of Marco Rodríguez and his predecessor Alvaro Martínez’ messaging is that Eurocup-3 does not view these championships as competition.

“I think each one of us has our place”, Rodríguez told Feeder Series. “We know very well what [Eurocup-3 was] born for and at the moment, in some way, it’s proving us right. The exact same policy we have with [Spanish F4], we want to keep in Eurocup-3, and that is that costs are contained, as well as reducing the budget gap between the top teams and the less top teams.”

“If we look at the history of [Spanish F4], we’ll see that there’s many different teams that have won the championship, although there are some dominating teams and the exact same thing happens here. What we want is for a driver to have the confidence that whatever team he joins, he has the chance to win. I think that’s what gives the championship life.”

“A race in our championship costs a little more than a test session in an FIA F3 car. We thought that a driver who competes in FIA F3, because it is a championship that has such little track time, could even do an entire championship with that budget and that’s happening. I don’t think that’s FRECA’s philosophy. However, we do have it inside our philosophy for drivers to have confidence that many teams can adjust the budget to their conditions.”

It’s a philosophy that has proven successful in attracting Palou Motorsport and Saintéloc Racing from the Spanish racing scene, but the series does not want to limit itself to teams already in its main feeder series. According to Rodríguez, two teams from both F1 support series have shown interest in joining from the 2026 season, when the next-generation Tatuus Formula Regional chassis are introduced.

Though he declined to name the teams, Rodríguez said series organisers spoke to one of the interested parties over the Red Bull Ring weekend in May. PHM AIX Racing, which was present in Austria that same weekend as a support series for the ESET Cup package, later told Feeder Series that it is “definitely looking into” entering the series.

Feeder Series also understands Spanish F4 outfit Rodin Motorsport had plans to enter Eurocup-3 this season that were cancelled during their transition in ownership late last year. However, it is unclear whether those plans will be revived.

“I believe the series will bring more international teams in, although we’re very happy with the ones we have now. This is an adventure that a lot of people want to join and that’s phenomenal, like it already happened in F4,” Rodríguez added, referring to the growth Spanish F4 has experienced since holding its inaugural round with just eight entries in 2016.

The reason many teams – including Monlau Motorsport, which was present at this year’s pre-season testing at Spa-Francorchamps – may be holding out for 2026 has to do with the impending introduction of the Tatuus Formula Regional Gen2 chassis. It is set to replace Eurocup-3 and FRECA’s current machinery in 2026.

The Italian company’s new chassis was originally set to debut in 2025. However, the FIA’s delay in releasing the homologation regulations for the second-generation Formula Regional cars means that they will come into use after next season at the earliest. The latest draft of the homologation regulations was published in April this year.

“I’ve heard that what is actually causing the delays is not the manufacturing of the new Tatuus, but the definitive release of the new regulations. That’s to say, what is actually happening is that the definitive regulations don’t come out until this season and it was a decision, I don’t know exactly by who, but at a political level, to delay the new release,” Rodriguez said when asked how Eurocup-3 organisers reacted to news of the delay.

For many teams, the investment required to purchase multiple current-generation chassis for a mere one or two seasons of use cannot be justified.

Eurocup-3 has not been as affected in this sense as the rest of the world’s FR series; its current chassis is a modified version of the original F3 T-318, built by Tatuus as an ‘anticipation’ of the Gen2 chassis. But said version will be three-years-old by the time the second-generation cars could come into use, by which point the series plans to make the switch.

Still, in spite of its modern look, mostly international calendar, and considerably larger grids in its second season, the series has not received full certification from the FIA. That means none of its top-finishing drivers from this season or the last will have received points towards getting their super licence. Rodríguez said he does not know why Eurocup-3 has not received full certification.

“I suppose at the moment we’re meeting all the requirements that are demanded of us. We’re complying with the timing in terms of regulations, we have a permanent race director, permanent stewards association, permanent technicians. We’re laying all our cards on the table, but it doesn’t depend solely on us.”

“I don’t want it to seem like I’m passing the buck, but it’s something you’d have to ask the FIA. We’re doing what we think we can do. Right now, as a matter of fact, we’re studying. This model is going to cost us a lot. We’re about to install a marshalling system in the F4 cars. We’re studying to introduce it in the Eurocup-3 cars as well.”

“We’re doing everything that’s in our hands and then the people that need to decide will be the ones to tell us. We’re convinced we’re going to get [certified] and hopeful that we’re going to get those points because I believe we deserve them.”

Asked how he sees the series a few years down the line, Rodríguez doesn’t appear to want to transform Eurocup-3’s model in any significant way. The organisers are loyal to the low-cost model in place and are firm on drawing the limit at 30 entries per event.

“I see it more or less where it is now, with a little more growth,” Rodríguez said. “I see it fulfilling the same role that it is fulfilling now, but, you know what? This changes a lot every year, so we have to be alert, study the situation, and see how the sport evolves. There’s a business side here, yes, but there’s also a sporting side – a very emotional side.”

“I don’t know where we’ll be in three years’ time. Right now we’re comfortable, working, fighting a lot in the place we’re in. We don’t want to measure ourselves against anyone. I think this is about adding, not subtracting or dividing.”

“Evidently, I think the decision Formula Renault and Formula Regional took to merge back in the day was a great idea, and while the market exists and there’s drivers that need a series to run in, we will continue to be there.”

Header photo credit: Dutch Photo Agency