Formula 4


FIA Formula 4, also called FIA F4, is an open-wheel racing car category intended for junior drivers. There is no global championship, but rather individual nations or regions can host their own championships in compliance with a universal set of rules and specifications.
The category was created by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile —the International sanctioning and administrative body for motorsport—as an entry-level category for young drivers, bridging the gap between karting and Formula 3. The series is a part of the FIA Global Pathway. Former Formula One driver Gerhard Berger was appointed as the FIA Single-Seater Commission president to oversee the creation of the category as a response to declining interest in national Formula 3 championships due to rising costs and alternate pathways to Formula One such as the then Formula Renault and GP2 and GP3 Series, which had seen several national Formula 3 championships discontinued. In the place of the expensive categories, a number of separate categories running under the Formula 4 name had been created, for example the British based the former BRDC Formula 4. There was no commonality between the cars from country to country. The FIA-endorsed category was formally created in March 2013, when it was approved by the World Motor Sport Council.
Initially, these Formula 4 championships started in 2014 as a single-make category before the regulations were opened up to multiple chassis and engine manufacturers. Each championship uses a single make of engine, with the regulations mandating a capacity and capping the maximum power output at, higher than Formula Ford and lower than Formula Renault. The engines are equalised so that no one Formula 4 championship is faster than the others, with the long-term intention being to bring the cost down to under €100,000 per year to compete.

Homologated chassis manufacturers

To become eligible for FIA Formula 4, the chassis must meet the FIA homologation requirements respecting technical and commercial regulations.
Four chassis manufacturers have been approved by the FIA: Tatuus, Mygale, Dome and Crawford.

Homologated engines

To become an eligible FIA Formula 4 engine, the engine must meet the homologation requirements. According to the homologation requirements a FIA Formula 4 engine must last at least 10,000 km and have a maximum purchasing price of €9,500. According to the FIA Formula 4 technical regulations only four cylinder engines are allowed. Both normally aspirated and turbocharged engines are permitted. The power output has been capped at 160 bhp. The engine displacement is unlimited. Currently four engines are homologated for use in the FIA Formula 4.
ManufacturerAbarthFordGeelyHondaRenaultTOM's-Toyota
Engine name1.4L FTJ3ZR
Engine typeinline 4inline 4inline 4inline 4inline 4inline 4
Displacement1,400cc1,600cc2,000cc2,000cc2,000cc2,000cc
ValvetrainDOHCCVVT DOHCVVT DOHCVVT DOHC
GEMS Honda GDi80 D
LubricationDry sumpDry sump
Cooling
Transmission
Fuel

FIA Formula 4 Championships

These championships are held to Formula 4 regulations and approved by the FIA as the national Formula 4 series. Drivers participating in these series can receive FIA Super Licence points, which are required to drive in Formula One. For a series to be eligible for Super Licence points, a season must be held over at least 5 events at a minimum of 3 different circuits, according to FIA Appendix L.
Inaugural seasonNameCountry/RegionChassisEngineNote
2014Italian Formula 4 ChampionshipTatuus F4-T014Abarth 1.4LReplaces Formula Abarth
2015F4 Japanese ChampionshipDome F110TOM'S-Toyota 2.0LOrganised by GT–Association to host the Super GT. There is another JAF Japan Formula 4, organised by Japanese ASN JAF.
2015F4 British ChampionshipMygale M14-F4Ford 1.6L EcoBoostReplaces the British Formula Ford Championship
2015ADAC Formula 4
Tatuus F4-T014Abarth 1.4LReplaces the ADAC Formel Masters
2015China Formula 4 ChampionshipMygale M14-F4Geely G-Power JLD-4G20 Organised by Narcar International Racing Development Co., Ltd. to host the China Formula Grand Prix.
2015SMP F4 Championship
Tatuus F4-T014Abarth 1.4LOrganised by SMP Racing, Koiranen GP, Finnish and Russian ASN — AKK-Motorsport and RAF.
2015NACAM Formula 4 ChampionshipMygale M14-F4Ford 1.6L EcoBoostNewly established series by Mexican ASN — OMDAI.
2016Spanish Formula 4 Championship
Tatuus F4-T014Abarth 1.4LNewly established series by Spanish ASN — RFEDA and Koiranen GP.
2016United States Formula 4 Championship
Crawford F4-16Honda K20 C2 Organised by SCCA Pro Racing and United States ASN — ACCUS. Starting 2017, Canadian rounds will be added, with ASN Canada FIA involved for that round
2016South East Asia Formula 4 Championship
Mygale M14-F4Renault F4R Replaces the AsiaCup Series. Organised by Malaysian ASN — AAM and Meritus.GP.
2016United Arab Emirates Formula 4 ChampionshipTatuus F4-T014Abarth 1.4LOrganised by Automobile & Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates and AUH Motorsports Dubai.
2017F4 Danish ChampionshipMygale M14-F4Renault F4R Organised by Dansk Automobil Sports Union.
2018F4 French ChampionshipMygale M14-F4Renault F4R Replaces the previous French F4 Championship which was a Formula Renault 1.6 series. Organised by Fédération Française du Sport Automobile.
2020F4 Argentina ChampionshipMygale M14-F4Geely G-Power JLD-4G20 The first F4 Championship to use the G-Power JLD-4G20 since the Chinese F4 Championship which ran its inaugural season in 2015
2020F4 Brazil ChampionshipTatuus F4-T014

Other Formula 4 championships

Formula Academy Finland

is a racing series based in Finland. Its first season was 2018. Formula Academy Finland uses same Tatuus-Abarth FIA Formula 4 car as ADAC Formula 4, Italian Formula 4 Championship and several other series. The series, however, is not approved by the FIA. There are plans to apply for Finnish Championship status for 2019 season. The series is organized by Koiranen GP.

Formula Pro USA Western Championships

take place at west coast tracks in the United States. It is a feeder series to the FIA recognized United States F4 Championship, and utilizes the identical chassis, engine, and tire package.

Fórmula 4 Sudamericana

The Fórmula 4 Sudamericana is a Formula 4 racing class that debuted in 2014. The class uses the same Signatech chassis and Fiat engines used previously in the Brazilian-based Formula Future Fiat.

JAF Japan Formula 4

is a formula racing series in Japan. The series was founded in 1993 by the Japan Automobile Federation as a class between the FJ1600 series and the All-Japan Formula Three Championship. Japanese Formula 4 is an open formula, where competitors can choose the chassis and engine manufacturers.

Canada CASC Formula 4 / F4

This is based on a non-FIA formulae, instead using 750cc motorcycle engines as power plants. Chassis are typically locally produced such as Xpit and Gamma and cars are fueled by methanol. Popular in the CASC Ontario region at a club level only since 1974.

Former Formula 4 championships

Australian Formula 4 Championship

The Australian Formula 4 Championship was held from 2015 to 2019 before its discontinuation due to a lack of entries.

BRDC Formula 4 Championship

The BRDC Formula 4 Championship was an entry level motorsport series based in the United Kingdom which began in 2013. Run by the British Racing Drivers' Club and MotorSport Vision, the series used identical cars built by Ralph Firman Racing and engines from Ford, before switching to FIA Formula 4 regulations in 2015, using the Tatuus F4–T014 chassis. Although run to the FIA's regulations, it was not recognised by the FIA as an official Formula 4 championship. In 2016, the series was upgraded and renamed the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship.