2026 Austria Formula Cup

The 2026 Austria Formula Cup is the 45th season of the Austria Formula Cup. It is the series' first season since 2012 to run without a title sponsorship, as the championship ran as the Remus F3 Cup from 2013 to 2018 and as the Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup from 2019 to 2025.^[1]

The championship features a mix of professional and gentleman drivers, competing in both contemporary and earlier-generation Formula 3 cars as well as Formula Renault 2.0 machinery. The 2026 season is scheduled to be held over eight race weekends across Europe, beginning in April at the Red Bull Ring and concluding in October at Mugello Circuit.^[2] The championship continues its cooperation with the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy, with the two series sharing grids and race slots for multiple rounds.

The class system was restructured for the 2026 season: The Formula 3 Cup, previously a separate class, became the overall ranking and encompasses all cars entered, with entrants in the Formula 3 Trophy, Formula Regional and Formula Light Cup classes now collecting points both in the overall ranking and their separate classes.^[3]

The 2026 calendar was announced on 15 January 2026.^[1] After only holding seven events in 2025, the calendar grew back to eight events for 2026. The Red Bull Ring and the Vallelunga Circuit returned after one- and two-year absences, with the series is also scheduled to return to Automotodrom Grobnik for the first time since 2001. These rounds came at the expense of the Hockenheimring, which was not featured on the calendar for the first time since 2021, and the Misano World Circuit, which did not return after its debut in 2025.

The 2026 season of the newly-renamed Austria Formula Cup began at the Red Bull Ring with Jo Zeller Racing's Sandro Zeller taking pole position for both races. The first race saw Zeller win ahead of Puresport driver Andrea Benalli, with Michael Fischer taking third for Red Rose Racing by LRT. Zeller doubled down in race two by taking another victory to end the weekend with a perfect score in the lead of the standings. Benalli came second again, 14 points behind Zeller in the championship, as Nannini Racing's Marco Falci claimed third. ADAC Südbayern e.V. driver Nicolas Löffler, Red Rose Racing's Norbert Lenzenweger and privateer entry Sarene Ziffel ended the round leading the different subclasses.^[7]

Round two at Imola saw Zeller take yet another pole position, but the first race began with Falci careering into him on the opening lap, eliminating both from the race. That left Benalli free to take victory ahead of Corbetta Racing's Riccardo Perego and Fischer. Zeller bounced back with a flawless performance throughout multiple safety car interruptions in race two. Benalli took second ahead of Fischer to end the weekend just a single point behind the Swiss in the overall standings. Löffler and Ziffel meanwhile both extended their lead in their respective subclasses, while pre-event Formula Regional leader Lenzenweger was absent, allowing Henry Morrogh's Matteo Zoccali to overtake him in their class.^[8]

The series returned to Automotodrom Grobnik for the first time in 25 years for round three. Fischer was the only one of the pre-event top ten drivers to attend the event. He dominated the weekend by taking victory in both races, first in wet conditions on Saturday and then once again in the dry on Sunday. He thereby claimed the championship lead by 17 as Team Hoffmann Racing's André Petropoulos took second twice to rise to fourth in the overall standings and claim the lead in the F3 Trophy class. The leaders in Formula Regional and Formula Light were both absent as Team Hoffmann's Karlheinz Matzinger and Kermor's Vida Benedek took double class wins on their first outings of the seasons.^[9]

For the race weekends held in conjunction with the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy, the shorter, first race of each weekend is designated the Sprint Race, where classified drivers score the following points:

The second race of each weekend, the longer Feature Race, awards more points:

Points are awarded both in the overall classification and per class. If less than three cars enter in a class, half points are awarded for the race.^[10] In the opening round as well as the other rounds held without the F2000 Italian Formula Trophy, both races are designated as feature races and award full points.

• Website of the Austria Formula Cup [German]