Formula Renault are classes of formula racing popular in Europe and elsewhere. Regarded as an entry-level series to motor racing, it was founded in 1971,[1] and was a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before moving on to higher formulas.
Renault now backs the French F4 Championship and Formula Regional European Championship. The World Series by Renault once included Formula Renault 3.5 before becoming World Series Formula V8 3.5 in 2016, then folding in 2017.
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 the Formula Renault 3.5 Series as part of the World Series by Renaultin2005. In 2016 the series became the World Series Formula V8 3.5, which folded in 2017.
Formula V6 Asia started in 2006 in Asia and ran at Asian Festival of Speed Weekends (Touring Car, Formula BMW and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia).
The old Eurocup and current Asian formulas use Tatuus chassis, while the World Series uses Dallara cars. Michelin is the tyre supplier.
| Formula Renault 3.5L official championships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone/Country | Last official series name | Active years | Tyres | Complementary information | |
 Europe
|
World Series by Nissan | 1998–2004 | M | Replaced by Formula Renault 3.5 Series. | |
| Formula Renault V6 Eurocup | 2003–2004 | M | Replaced by Formula Renault 3.5 Series. | ||
| Formula Renault 3.5 Series (part of World Series by Renault) | 2005-2017 | M | |||
  Asia
|
Formula V6 Asia | 2006–2009 | M | ||
A Pan Am Formula Renault V6 series was planned to take place in 2005 but it never occurred.[2]
Formula Renault 2.0 descended from Formula France created in 1968. Its predecessors used 1.3L (1968–1971), 1.6L (1972–1981), 1.6L turbo (1982–1988) and later 1,721 cc (1989–1994), then 2l 8V (1995–1999) engines in single-seater chassis. The series evolved in 2000 into a 2L 16V series using one-make cars from Italian manufacturer Tatuus. The series was introduced into the UK in 1989 and even after the 1721 cc cars had been replaced at the top level a club-level series for them continued in parallel with the more ambitious 2.0 series. This is seen as one of the key steps in a driver's career before Formula Three.
The most notable recent graduate of the formula is Kimi Räikkönen, who moved straight into Formula One after winning the British Formula Renault championship.
The Formula Renault 95 used multiple chassis, production 2.0-litre 8V 165 hp engines and Hewland five-speed manual gearboxes. Manufacturers were able to build cars around spec components such as the engine, bellhousing, gearbox, brakes, wheels and ECU. Chassis were steel space frame with fibreglass bodies. Manufacturers included Mygale, Martini, Swift, Tatuus, and Ermolli. The car was last used in 1999.
The Formula Renault 2000 had a Tatuus-made chassis running 2.0 LRenault Clio engines attached to a Sadev gearbox.[3] The engine originally had a maximum output of 185 hp, and was upgraded to 210 hp in 2006. They are capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 mph (160 km/h) in 4.85 seconds and braking from 125 mph (200 km/h) to a stop in 4.60 seconds.[4] The Tatuus Formula Renault car is the most successful single seater ever, with 10 years of service and nearly 1000 sold. The car has produced many current Formula One stars, with 11 of the 25 drivers in the 2009 Formula One season using the car in the infancy of their careers.
For the 2010 season, a new car developed by Barazi-Epsilon, will be used in most major championships, with the old car still being used in minor championships such as Formula Renault BARC in the UK.
The chassis is a carbon fiber cell designed and developed by Tatuus and Renault Sport. It also incorporates a FIA-approved roll hoop and lateral driver's head protection. This was introduced in 2000 and updated with new bodywork in 2004 and 2007. Both the chassis and engine are of an FIA-approved "impact break-away" design.
The engine is a sealed, 16-valve, 4-cylinder Renault Sport type F4R FRS with Orbisoud race exhaust system and catalytic converter, built and developed by Renault Sport.
Formula Renault uses a Sadev 6-speed, sequential gearbox with mechanical control featuring three specified sets of ratios using a Limited Slip Differential and Twin-Plate. The clutch is hydraulic. It also uses Elf Transmission LS.
The brakes are four-pot calipers, with ventilated discs and Ferodo(type DS4003) pads. They include cockpit-adjustable bias front-to-rear.
Manufactured by Barazi-Epsilon EB01 A
Main changes to the previous models are:
Two sorts of Formula Renault 2.0 championships exist. Regular championships and Winter Series, an off-season championship held usually between November and February with few races. In 2005, all series names were replaced from Formula Renault 2000toFormula Renault 2.0.
An Uruguyan 2.0L series is also held (José Pedro Passadores 2003 champion).[5]
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 Didier Pironi, Kimi Räikkönen, Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton all of whom have gone onto win Grands Prix.
This Formula Renault series was open to drivers between 14 and 21 years that have raced before in karting series.[8]
The cars use K4M 1598cc Renault engines.
| Formula Renault 1.6L official championships | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | |||||
| Zone/Country | Last official series name | Active years | Tyres | Complementary information | |
 Belgium
|
Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium | 2003–2007 | M | Former name: Formula Renault 1600 Belgium. Reguled by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium | |
 France
|
F4 Eurocup 1.6 (part of World Series by Renault) | 1993-2017 | M | Former names: Championnat de France FFSA Formule Campus Renault Elf, Formul'Academy Euro Series. The series is managed by La Filière Elf since 1993, La Filière FFSA since 2001 and by the Auto Sport Academy based near the Circuit BugattiinLe Mans since 2008. | |
 Italy
|
Formula Junior 1.6 powered by Renault | 2002–2006 | M | Former name: Formula Junior 1600 by Renault. In 2007, it was replaced by Formula Monza 1.6 and 1.2 powered by Fiat engine. | |
 Spain
|
Formula Renault 1.6 Spain | 2002–2004 | M | Former name: Formula Junior 1600 Spain | |
  Western Europe
|
Formula Renault 1.6 NEC Junior | 2013–2014 | K | ||
   Northern Europe
|
Formula Renault 1.6 Nordic | 2013–2015 | D M |
Series supporting STCC. Used Dunlop tyres during 2013–2014 season, changed to Michelin for 2015 following its parent series. Will continue in 2016 without Renault support. | |
| America | |||||
| Zone/Country | Last official series name | Active years | Tyres | Complementary information | |
 Argentina
|
Formula Renault Elf 1.6 Argentina | 2007-2009 | M | Replaced in 2010 by FR 2.0 | |
 Latin America
|
Formula Junior 1600 | 2005–2007 | M | ||
  North America
|
North American Fran Am 1600 Pro Championship | 2002–2003 | M | Replaced by Formula TR 1600 Pro Series | |
| Formula TR 1600 Pro Series | 2004–2007 | Y | Held on west coast only. | ||
| Formula Renault 1.6L championships winners | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Argentina[9]
|
France[10]
|
Belgium[11]
|
Italy[12]
|
Latin America[13] | North America[11]
|
Spain[11]
| ||
| 2010 | Nicolás Trosset
|
Stoffel Vandoorne
|
|||||||
| 2009 | Facundo Ardusso
|
Benjamin Bailly
|
|||||||
| 2008 | Guido Falaschi
|
Arthur Pic
|
|||||||
| 2007 | Mariano Werner
|
Jean-Éric Vergne
|
 Karline Stala
|
Gerardo Nieto
|
Ryan Booth
|
||||
| 2006 | Mariano Werner
|
Kevin Estre
|
 Craig Dolby
|
Augusto Scalbi
|
 Juan Esteban Jacobo
|
Parker Kligerman
|
|||
| 2005 | Lucas Benamo
|
Jean Karl Vernay
|
Pierre Sevrin
|
Pasquale Di Sabatino Davide Ruzzon
|
Alfonso Toledano Jr.
|
Carl Skerlong
|
|||
| 2004 | Ezequiel Bosio
|
Jacky Ferré
|
Maxime Soulet
|
 Michael Herck
|
Marco Andretti
|
Michael Herck
| |||
| 2003 | Maximiliano Merlino
|
Laurent Groppi
|
Jérôme d'Ambrosio
|
Marino Spinozzi Domenico Capuano
|
Colin Braun[14]
|
Juan Antonio del Pino
| |||
| 2002 | Rafael Morgenstern
|
Loïc Duval
|
Barbieri
|
Tim Barber[15]
|
Adrián Vallés
| ||||
| 2001 | Rafael Morgenstern
|
Bruce Lorgeré-Roux
|
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| 2000 | Esteban Guerrieri
|
Stéphane Morat
|
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| 1999 | Mariano Acebal
|
Adam Jones
|
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| 1998 | Gabriel Ponce de León
|
Westley Barber
|
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| 1997 | Mauro Fartuszek
|
Marcel Costa
|
|||||||
| 1996 | Martín Basso
|
Philippe Benoliel
|
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| 1995 | Brian Smith
|
Renaud Malinconi
|
|||||||
| 1994 | Guillermo Di Giacinti
|
Franck Montagny
|
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| 1993 | Juan Manuel Silva
|
Sébastien Philippe
|
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| 1992 | Norberto Della Santina
|
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| 1991 | Omar Martinez
|
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| 1990 | Omar Martinez
|
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| 1989 | Sergio Solmi
|
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| 1988 | Luis Belloso
|
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| 1987 | Daniel Neviani
|
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| 1986 | Gabriel Furlán
|
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| 1985 | Miguel Angel Etchegaray
|
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| 1984 | Néstor Gurini
|
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| 1983 | Néstor Gurini
|
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| 1982 | Roberto Urretavizcaya
|
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| 1981 | Carlos Lauricella
|
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| 1980 | Víctor Rosso
|
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| Formulas Renault 1.6L timeline | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | |
| Argentina | Formula Renault Argentina | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| France | Formula Campus Renault La Filière Elf |
Formula Campus Renault La Filière FFSA |
Formul' Academy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| North America | Fran Am 1600 Pro | Formula TR 1600 Pro Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italy | FJ 1600 by Renault |
Formula Junior 1.6 by Renault | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spain | FJ 1600 Spain | FR 1.6 Spain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgium | FR 1600 Belgium | FR 1.6 Belgium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Latin America | Formula Junior 1600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | |
| 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Argentina organises several Formula Renault championships different from its official 2.0L series:
In 2008, the Formula 2000 Light was created.[21] The series is held in Italy with Tatuus's Formula Renault or Formula Three chassis. The same year also saw the introduction of the LATAM Challenge Series, run in Latin America. The Austria Formel Renault Cup has been held since 2007inCentral Europe.[22] This series is held and organised with the Austria Formula 3 Cup and use the 2.0L Renault formulas. The Formule Renault 2.0 North European Zone was also introduced in 2008.
2008 was the first, and ultimately last, season of the Formula Asia 2.0.[citation needed] Its aim was to bring more racing to the Asian region, allowing more drivers to opportunity to race and make the step up to the next level.[citation needed] The series used Renault engines with constructor Tatuus and ran on Michelin provided tyres.[citation needed]
For GP Series winners, see GP2 Series, GP2 Asia Series and GP3 Series pages.
| Other formulas powered by Renault championships winners | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year |  AustriaFormel Renault Cup |
Formule Renault 2.0 North European Zone |
Formula 2000 Light |
Formula Asia 2.0 |
Fórmula Super Renault/ Renault Plus |
Fórmula 4 Metropolitana/ Nacional |
Fórmula Interprovencial |
LATAM Challenge Series | ||
| 2010 | Grégory Striebig
|
Daniel Roos
|
Stefano Turchetto Adolfo Bottura
|
 TBA
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
TBA
|
TBA
| ||
| 2009 | Vanaselja Tönis
|
Felix Rosenqvist
|
Thiemo Storz (1) Francisco Weiler
|
not held | Alan Castellano
|
Emiliano González
|
Darío Elisei
|
 André Solano
| ||
| 2008 | Grégory Striebig
|
Jesse Krohn
|
Mario Bertolotti Martin Scuncio
|
Felix Rosenqvist
|
Mario Gerbaldo
|
Alan Castellano
|
Fabricio Fernandez
|
 Giancarlo Serenelli
| ||
| 2007 | Grégory Striebig
|
not held | not held | not held | Esteban Sarry
|
Francesco Troncoso (N)
|
Alejandro Pancello
|
not held | ||
| 2006 | not held | Eric Borsini[23]
|
not held | not held | ||||||
| 2005 | not held[20] | |||||||||
| 2004 | Ivo Perabó[24]
| |||||||||
| 2003 | Federico Lifschitz[25]
| |||||||||
| 2002 | Matías Rossi[26]
| |||||||||
| 2001 | ? | |||||||||
| 2000 | ? | |||||||||
| 1999 | ? | |||||||||
| 1998 | ? | |||||||||
| 1997 | Christian Ledesma
| |||||||||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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Classes of auto racing
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| Formula racing |
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| One-make formulae |
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| One-make spec racing |
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| Karting |
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| Touring car racing |
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| Stock car racing |
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| Oval |
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| Rallying |
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| Sports prototypes |
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| Grand touring |
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| Drag racing |
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| Off-road |
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