Formula Renault

Formula Renault is a class of formula racing founded in 1971. [ [http://www.renault-sport.com/fr/circuit/france_2000/presentation.php Présentation] (Presentation) from the French Championship] It is popular in Europe and other countries. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it is a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to Formula Three, World Series by Renault, GP2 or Formula One.

Renault now backs several one-make single-seater series; it is essential to distinguish Formula Renault 1.6, Formula Renault 2.0 and World Series by Renault (formerly Formula Renault 3.5). The GP2 Series is also powered by Renault-badged engines but is not considered part of the Renault driver development programme.

At the end of each racing season, Renault Sport give the opportunity to the best Formula Renault 2.0 drivers to try the 3.5L car at Paul Ricard circuit. [http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=274993&FS= EU 2.0 Paul Ricard test summary] "motorsport.com" (2007-11-07)]

Formula Renault 3.5L

The most senior 'Formula Renault' was the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup started by Renault to run as part of Eurosport's Super Racing Weekends (ETCC and FIA GT Championship). Only two seasons were run between 2003 and 2004 before Renault left Super Racing Weekends and merged the series with the similar World Series by Nissan to create World Series by Renault in 2005.

Formula V6 Asia started in 2006 in Asia and ran at Asian Festival of Speed Weekends (Touring Car, Formula BMW and Porsche Carrera Cup).

Eurocup and Asian formulas use Tatuus chassis, while the World Series uses Dallara cars. Michelin is the tyre supplier.

The cars

* engine : Renault Type V4Y RS, 60° V6, 3498 cc
* chassis : Tatuus (Eurocup and Asia) or Dallara (World Series) Carbon-fibre Monocoque, carbon and fibreglass bodywork
* width : 1850 mm (72.8") maximum
* wheelbase : 3000 mm
* track : 1579 mm (front) and 1536 mm (rear)
* weight: 590 kg
* Fuel : 90 litres
* suspension front and rear with torsion bar, push-rod, twin struts
* telemetry, and steering wheel
* sequential gearbox, six gears
* Wheels : Single piece magnesium with central nut, 10 x 13 (front) and 13 x 13 (rear)
* Tyres : Michelin dry and rain, 24 x 57 x 13 (front) and 31 x 60 x 13 (rear)

Championships

* [1] Formula Renault 2.0L was used since 1995 and doesn't exist before this date were series ran with 1.6L engine.

Winners

A majority of Formula Renault champions have gone onto lead successful careers in motor racing, most notably Alain Prost who won the Formula One World Championship four times in his career. Other drivers include René Arnoux, Didier Pironi, Kimi Räikkönen, Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton all of which have gone onto win Grands Prix.

Formula Renault 2.0L Timeline

* Only white square represent held championships.
*(M) = Formula 4 Metropolitan winner.
*(I) = Formula Renault Interprovencial winner.

Notable drivers

* In Belgium 2007 championship, Karline Stala was the first ever woman to win a single seaters championship. [ [http://www.renault-sport.be/newsdet.asp?ref=244 first woman to win a single seater] "renault-sport.be" (2007-10-15)] She is invite to test the Formula Renault 3.5L at Paul Ricard circuit in November 2007, like the best 2.0L and 3.5L drivers. [http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=274993&FS= EU 2.0 Paul Ricard test summary] "motorsport.com" (2007-11-07)]
* In French series:
** Franck Montagny : 2007 Formula One driver.
** Loïc Duval, Jean Karl Vernay, Alexandre Premat, Nicolas Prost : race for A1 Team France in A1GP.

Formula Renault 1.6L timeline

* "FR" = Formula Renault ; "FJ" = Formula Junior ; italic = Former series

References

External links

* [http://www.renault-sport.com/ Renault Sport]

Formula Renault 3.5L

* [http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/formulaV6/ World Series by Renault]
** en [http://www.renault-sport.com/en/circuit/eurocup_v6/ Eurocup Formula Renault V6] former-series
* [http://www.afos.com/fv6.php Formula V6 Asia]

Formula Renault 2.0L

;Europe
* [http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/eurocup_2000/ Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0] "renault-sport.com"
* [http://www.renault-sport.com/fr/circuit/france_2000/presentation.php French Formula Renault 2.0] "renault-sport.com"
* [http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/championships/formularenaultuk/ Formula Renault 2.0 UK] "renaultsport.co.uk"
* [http://www.barc.net/ch06104.htm BARC Formula Renault BARC] "barc.net"
** en [http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/championships/formularenaultbarc/ BARC Formula Renault] "renault-sport.uk"
* [http://www.renaultsportitalia.it/f2.php Formula Renault 2.0 Italy] "renaultsportitalia.it"
* [http://www.formularenaultwec.com/?langue=en Formula Renault 2.0 WEC] "formularenaultwec.com"
* [http://necup.com/index.htm Formula Renault 2.0 NEC] "necup.com"
** De icon [http://www.renault-sport.de/index.php?id=5 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC] "renault-sport.de"
* [http://www.worldseriesbyrenault.ch/ Formula Renault 2.0 Switzerland] "worldseriesbyrenault.ch"
* [http://www.rata-sm.fi/content/en/11501/7/7.html Formula Renault 2.0 Finland] "rata-sm.fi"
* [http://formulajunior.net/ Fórmula Júnior FR2.0 Portugal] "formulajunior.net";America
* [http://www.formulatr.com/ Formula TR Pro Series] "formulatr.com" (USA)
* [http://www.PanamGPSeries.com Formula Renault 2000 de America] "PanamGPSeries.com" (Latin America)
** es [http://www.copacorona.com/ Mexican Formula Renault Championship] "copacorona.com" (former series).; Asia
* [http://www.frdsports.com/en/a_renault/arenault_main.html Asian Formula Renault Challenge] "frdsports.com"
** en [http://www.frdsports.com/en/c_renault/crenault_main.html Chinese Formula Renault] "frdsports.com"

Formula Renault 1.6L

;Europe
* [http://www.autosportacademy.com/index.php?codeL=fr Formul'Academy] "autosportacademy.com"
* [http://www.renault-sport.be/init.asp?Lang=EN Formula 1.6 Belgium] "renault-sport.be";America
* [http://www.formulas-argentinas.com.ar/ Formula Renault 1.6 Argentina] "formulas-argentinas.com.ar"
** es [http://www.apefa.com.ar/ APEFA] "apefa.com.ar"
* [http://www.formulatr.com/ Formula TR Pro Series] "formulatr.com" (USA)
* [http://www.PanamGPSeries.com Formula Junior 1600] "PanamGPSeries.com" (Latin America)

Other formula powered by Renault

;Europe
* [http://nuke.formula2000light.com/Default.aspx Formumla 2000 Light] "formula2000light.com" (2.0L, Italy);America
* [http://www.campfsr.com.ar/index.htm Formula Super Renault Argentina] "campfsr.com.ar" (2.0L)
* [http://www.frinterprovincial.com/index.htm Formula Renault Interprovencial and Plus] "frinterprovincial.com" (1.6L, Argentina)