--- title: "Ukrainian Bondarev Takes a Step Toward F1: FREC Debut for Van Amersfoort Racing at Imola" description: "Ukrainian racer Alexander Bondarev makes his Formula Regional European Championship (FREC) debut for Van Amersfoort Racing. The start is set for 4–6 September at the Imola circuit." date: 2026-09-03T09:16:07.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/bondarev-frec-debut-for-van-amersfoort-racing-at-imola tags: [formula-regional, frec, van-amersfoort-racing, alexander-bondarev, imola, motorsport, ukraine, formula-4] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukrainian Bondarev Takes a Step Toward F1: FREC Debut for Van Amersfoort Racing at Imola ![Ukrainian driver Bondarev in Williams Driver Academy gear at Imola ahead of his FREC debut with Van Amersfoort Racing](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/03/bondarev-debyut-v-frec-za-van-amersfoort-racing-v-imole/bondarev-debyut-v-frec-za-van-amersfoort-racing-v-imole-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Alexander Bondarev makes his FREC debut on 4–6 September at the Imola circuit. - The Ukrainian will drive for Van Amersfoort Racing, which sits 9th in the Constructors' Cup with 37 points. - This season Bondarev won the Formula 4 Middle East title and headed into the summer break in 9th place in Italian F4 with Prema. Ukrainian racer Alexander Bondarev is climbing to a new level in formula racing: the Kyiv-born driver has been added to the entry list for the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC). His series debut is scheduled for 4–6 September at the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. This was reported by [Sport RBC.UA](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/othersport/pishov-pidvishchennya-ukrayinskiy-pilot-debyutue-1788426125.html), citing the official Instagram page of Van Amersfoort Racing. ### Moving Up a Level The FREC series is traditionally seen as the next step after Formula 4 on the path to every driver's ultimate goal — Formula 1. Being named for the Imola round means Bondarev will contest the final two rounds of the current season in the series. According to the source, the overall entry list of 30 competitors includes as many as seven debutants, underscoring the high level of competition and the series' openness to young drivers. ### Van Amersfoort Racing Team The Ukrainian will defend the colors of Van Amersfoort Racing in a squad that, at the time of writing, sits 9th in the Constructors' Cup with 37 points. For a driver joining the team on the season's home stretch, this means he must quickly get to grips with the car, the circuit, and the team's tactics in order to make his mark in the final two rounds. ### Current Season Achievements For Bondarev, this year has already been marked by a number of significant results. Early in the season he became the Formula 4 Middle East champion, winning the first formula title for Ukraine. In addition, driving for Prema, the Ukrainian headed into the summer break in 9th place in the overall standings of the Italian championship, finishing in the top three in two individual races. It is in Prema livery that he is captured in the trackside photos, chatting with teammates and paddock guests. ### Context and Significance of the Move The FREC debut fits logically into the growth trajectory of the young Ukrainian driver: after the Middle East F4 title and consistent results in the Italian championship, the move to the regional European series is a natural step toward a higher level. The broader season context also deserves attention — it was previously reported that the FIA lifted the restrictions on drivers from Russia and Belarus, which affects line-ups and competition in the junior series. For Bondarev, the key task for the upcoming rounds at Imola will be to adapt to the new team and car and to demonstrate the potential that has earned him a place in one of the leading junior programs. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Moving up: Ukrainian driver debuts in a new racing series](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/othersport/pishov-pidvishchennya-ukrayinskiy-pilot-debyutue-1788426125.html) - Подтверждает дебют Бондарева в FREC на этапе в Имоле (4–6 сентября), команду Van Amersfoort Racing, 9-е место в Кубке конструкторов (37 очков), титул в Ф-4 Ближнего Востока и 9-е место в итальянской Ф-4 за Prema. - [Bondarev talks about his goal after the move to a new team](https://sportnews.24tv.ua/ru/bondarev-ukrainskij-gonshhik-rasskazal-o-svoej-celi-v-novom-chempionate_n3135200) - Подтверждает сам факт перехода в новую команду и наличие у пилота заявленной задачи в новом чемпионате; конкретные цифры в данном источнике не расходятся с основным текстом. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: When and where will Alexander Bondarev make his FREC debut? **A:** The debut is scheduled for 4–6 September at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. ### Q: Which team will Bondarev drive for in the new series? **A:** The Ukrainian will defend the colors of Van Amersfoort Racing, which sits 9th in the Constructors' Cup with 37 points. ### Q: What results has Bondarev achieved in the current season before moving to FREC? **A:** He became the Formula 4 Middle East champion and, driving for Prema, headed into the summer break in 9th place in the overall standings of the Italian championship, finishing in the top three in two races.