In 2013, the FIA Single seat commission announced their intention to introduce a new category of single seat racing in order to bridge the gap between karting and Formula 3.[3]
Throughout the following two years, the ATCUAE has worked to develop a Formula 4 championship for the UAE, which will be the first in the Middle East and North African region. One of the first steps taken was to appoint Dubai based AUH Motorsports to manage the championship, based on their experience and expertise in having run the regional Radical Sportscars series for several years.[4]
Following the launch in February 2016, the car was given its first test around the Dubai Autodrome, driven by Dubai-born Indy Lights driver Ed Jones.[6]
In October 2023, it was announced that the championship will change its name to F4 Middle East Championship from 2025 onwards amidst the long-term expansion to the other countries of the Middle East region.[7]
Format
The inaugural 2016–17 championship featured eighteen races over six weekends, four of which were held at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, with the remaining two at the Dubai Autodrome.[8] As of 2021, the championship features twenty races over five rounds. The race weekends consist of two qualifying sessions determining grids for Race 1 and 3. Starting grids of Race 2 are set by the second fastest lap during Qualifying 1 and grids of Race 4 are with the top eight drivers having their positions reversed from Race 3 results.
Car
The championship features Tatuus designed and built cars. The cars are constructed out of carbon fibre and feature a monocoque chassis.
In the 2022 season, the series is set to be the host for the global debut of the new second-generation Tatuus F4 race car. The car called F4-T-421 will be a complete rework of Formula 4 car according to the 2nd Generation technical regulations, with the most significant being the introduction of the halo system.[10]
^Dubai Autodrome hosted 3 rounds in 2019–2022, 2 rounds in 2016–17, 2017–18 and 2023 seasons. It will also host 2 rounds in 2024.
^Yas Marina Circuit hosted 4 rounds in 2017–18 season, 3 rounds in 2016–17 season, and 2 rounds in 2019–2022 seasons. It will also host 3 rounds in 2024.
.png){kind=logo}
