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Enjoy!

Formula Renault 3.5 Guide

The World Series by Renault is a series of events run worldwide that combine the various Renault Sport series; Formula Renault 2.0, Renault Clio Cup, Eurocup Megane Trophy and Formula Renault 3.5. The events give the spectators a chance to get up and close to cars, including demonstrations from the R26 Renault Formula One Car.

The Championship

The Renault 3.5 championship follows all of the events in the World Series by Renault series as well as supporting the FIA Formula One World Championship at its Monaco round. Two 60 minute practice sessions are held on Friday, Qualifying is held on Saturday by dividing the field into 2 groups (A and B) who each get a 20 minute session, the quickest 6 drivers in each session move forward to the super pole session. For the first race the top 8 grid positions are taken from the top 8 positions in the super pole session reversed, with positions 9 to 12 in super pole order and the final positions will be taken up with each group having being positions on each side of the group in their sessions order. For race two the top 8 cars will line up in order they finished during the super pole with the rest of the cars lining up in the order that they finished the first race. Each meeting will have two 44 minute races, except at Monaco and Portimao, with the second race having a mandatory pit stop.

The Car

The 425 bhp Dallara built car uses Michelin tyres, is compliant with F1 safety standards. The 3.5 litre engine is designed and produced by Solution F and takes it’s block from the Renault Espace.

Directly inspired by the Renault F1 R27, Formula Renault 3.5’s design simply exudes aerodynamic efficiency. Narrower than its predecessor, the chassis has a raised nose cone, which enables air flow to the car’s undertray to be optimized.

The car is between a GP2 car and Formula Two car in terms of lap times. The winner of the championship receives a Renault F1 test and an F1 super licence.

Past Championship Summary

2009

Bertrand Baguette – 1st – 155

Fairuz Fauzy – 2nd 98

Charles Pic – 3rd – 94

2008

Giedo Van Der Garde – 1st – 137

Julien Jousse – 2nd – 106

Fabio Carbone – 3rd – 97

2007

Alvaro Parente – 1st – 129

Ben Hanley – 2nd – 102

Milos Pavlovic – 3rd – 96

2006

Alx Danielsson – 1st – 112

Borja Garcia – 2nd – 107

Pastor Maldonado – 3rd – 102

2005

Robert Kubica – 1st – 154

Adrian Valles – 2nd - 116

Markus Winkelhock – 3rd - 114

This Guide can now be found under the Guides section on the right hand side

Happy Christmas

So, 25^th December? Happy Christmas. Whatever you believe we hope you have a great Christmas, but as we get closer to the end of the year, we should look to 2010 and the new season that we have to look forward to.

2010 sees the second year of the MSV run Formula Two championship and after Andy Soucek showed his worth in 2009, we’re hoping for a closer season. We also have the first season of the GP3 series to look forward to, with 30 cars it’ll be interesting to watch this championship progress and see if the usual teams will be at the front as in the GP2 series, or if a new team order will surface.

I’m excited for 2010, and I hope you are too, there’s a whole new type of content on its way, so watch out for that and watch as the website develops over the next weeks and months, with a new calendar, more series guides and team and driver guides too.

We wish you a great Christmas, and a fabulous 2010.

The Feeder Series

Back In Time; Turkey 2006

Continuing our series on past Feeder Series racing, today we look back to Istanbul, Turkey on August 27th 2006, to the second race of the 10th round of the GP2 Series.

Lewis Hamilton starts from the front of the grid but soon spins down to 18th place and spends the rest of the race working his way up to 2nd, after a display of overtaking that shows why he was soon to become F1 world champion.

The video below shows the highlights of this race.

Formula 1 – Young Driver Test

From 1-3 December, Formula 1 testing started again but this time it was the young driver test in Jerez with many teams taking the opportunity to test how new and up and coming drivers could cope with a Formula 1 car.

The drivers taking part were;

Daniel Ricciardo – 2009 Formula 3, Champion

Brendan Hartley – 2007 Formula Renault Eurocup, Champion

Mirko Bortolotti – 2008 Italian Formula 3, Champion

Andy Soucek – 2009 Formula 2, Champion

Nico Hulkenberg – 2009 GP2, Champion (and 2010 Williams F1 Driver)

Bertrand Baguette – 2009 Renault 3.5, Champion

Lucas di Grassi – 2009 GP2, Third

Ho-Pin Tung – 2006 German Formula 3, Champion

Jules Bianchi – 2009 Formula 3 Euroseries, Champion

Daniel Zampieri – 2009 Italian Formula 3, Champion

Marco Zipoli – 2009 Italian Formula 3, Second

Pablo Sanchez Lopez – 2009 Italian Formula 3, Third

JR Hildebrand – 2009 Firestone Indy Lights, Champion

Paul di Resta – 2006 Formula 3 Euroseries, Champion (and 2009 DTM Mercedes Driver)

Oliver Turvey – 2009 Renault 3.5, Fourth (Testing as prize for winning the 2006 Mclaren Autosport Award)

Gary Paffett – 2009 DTM, Second (and 2009 Mclaren Test Driver)

Alexander Rossi – 2008 Formula BMW America, Champion (Testing as prize for winning 2008 Formula BMW
World Final)

Esteban Gutiérrez – 2008 Formula BMW Europe, Champion

Marcus Ericsson – 2009 Japanese Formula 3, Champion

Mike Conway – 2006 British Formula 3, Champion

All drivers did themselves proud with no-one standing out from the crowd as there was no Formula 1 driver to compare them too, all cars came back in the same shape that they started and so the teams were happy aswell.

The biggest news from the test was that Jules Bianchi has been signed for Ferrari, his exact role has yet to be announced, but it’s been suggested that Ferrari are looking to have someone to fill in as third driver at the team.

For full results of the 3 days click the links below;

1st December

2nd December

3rd December

Back In Time; Genk 1996

This is a new series of Feeder Series posts that will cover past events of Feeder Series racing.

Today we revisit a race that now Brawn GP test driver Anthony Davidson describes as the hardest racing he’s ever done. Anthony was racing in the Formula A championship in Genk, Belguim. He is in Kart 121.

Episode 5 – Interview with Oliver Webb

In Episode 5 of The Feeder Series we talk to Oliver Webb, who has recently been confirmed at Fortec for the 2010 Formula 3 season. We talk about his career and his plans for the future.

To listen, click the play button below

Oliver Webb (GB), Fortec

Show notes;
Oliver Webb – Official Website

Intro/Outro Forgotten Words – dePhaser

With thanks to Music Alley for the podsafe music.

Formula Renault 2.0 – New Car Launch

The new Formula Renault 2.0 car has had it’s first UK track test, the 210 bhp car replaces the previous Tatus built car that became the worlds best selling single seater. The older cars will now be used in the International Formula Master series in the “International Formula Master Light” class and in the Formula Renault BARC series.

The new car, with it’s visable aerodynamic changes, also features a new paddleshift box and will first race at Thruxton in 2010 as part of the British Touring Car support package.

The car first turned a wheel in the UK at the Rockingham circuit in Northampton, 2007 Formula Renault champion Duncan Tappy was the driver for the day, he said;  “The car lends itself to more of an F3 driving style and at high speeds you can really feel the aerodynamics working. The paddle-shift gearbox is also very easy to use with smooth changes both up and down. Overall I have to say it’s a better all-round package.”

Macau GP – Preview

This weekend is the Macau F3 GP. You may or may not have heard of Macau before but to fully explain, it’s sometimes known for “making Monaco look wide and full of overtaking.” To show you full what I mean below is a lap of the afformensioned circuit;




It’s my opinion that everyone who finishes the race, let alone wins, should get a trophy.

The schedule is avaliable here.

GP3 Series – Launch

The GP3 series was launched on Tuesday at the Paul Ricard circuit. Formula 1 driver Mark Webber did 19 laps of the circuit in the Dallara built car, he said;

“The biggest advantage for this championship has to be racing at the Formula One race weekends. This will give drivers great exposure, and for sure all of the team bosses will be watching during race weekends. Overall I think it is a great car I am very impressed by the whole package, and I am looking forward to the first race next season.”

A number of other drivers and journalists also drove the car for the first time, including; Martin Brundle, Paolo Ciccarone and Adam Hay-Nicholls.