World Series Formula V8 3.5 Explained

Inaugural:1998
Constructors:Dallara
Engines:Zytek badged as Renault (2011–2015)
Zytek (2016–2017)[1]
Tyres:Michelin[2]
Country/Region:Global
Folded:2017
Champion Driver: Pietro Fittipaldi
Champion Team: Lotus
Website:Official website

The World Series Formula V8 3.5, formerly the World Series by Nissan from 1998 to 2004, the Formula Renault 3.5 Series from 2005 to 2015 and the Formula V8 3.5 in 2016 and 2017, was a motor racing series promoted by RPM Racing (1998–2004) and Renault Sport (2005–2015).

History

The series came out of the Spanish Formula Renault Championship, which ran from 1991 to 1997. The World Series was founded as Open Fortuna by Nissan in 1998, and was mostly based in Spain, but visited other countries throughout its history, including France, Italy, Portugal and Brazil. The organization was handled by RPM Comunicacion, founded by Jaime Alguersuari Tortajada. The series changed name a number of times, usually adopting the name of its main sponsor, but was also known by other common names such as the unofficial "Formula Nissan".

In its early years, the series used chassis built by Coloni, with a 2.0 L Nissan SR20 engine. The series slotted in between Formula Three and Formula 3000. In 2002, it adopted a new format, with chassis supplied by Dallara and the engine upgraded to the VQ30. The series also became more international, with more than half of the race calendar held outside Spain.

Renault started the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup in 2003, as a support series in Eurosport's Super Racing Weekends (European Touring Car Championship and FIA GT Championship). The series ran with Tatuus chassis and a Nissan 3.5 L V6 engine.

In 2005, Renault left the Super Racing Weekend and started the World Series by Renault and the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, merging both the World Series by Nissan (whose engine contract had finished) and Renault V6 Eurocup. The Dallara chassis was retained, while the Renault V6 was improved to 425 PS. Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and the Eurocup Mégane Trophy also joined the series in 2005 to support the main FR3.5 series.

At the end of July 2015, Renault Sport announced it would be withdrawing its backing to the Formula Renault 3.5 from 2016 onwards, handing the control of the series to co-organiser RPM. However, Renault Sport also said it would continue the World Series by Renault with the Renault Sport Trophy and the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup.[3] As a result of this, RPM decided to change the series' name to Formula V8 3.5.[4] In December 2016, the series' name was changed again to World Series Formula V8 3.5, giving extra recognition to the championship.[5] On 17 November 2017 was announced that due to lack of entries the series would not take place in 2018 with a possibility of relaunch in the near future.[6]

Technical

From 2008 to 2011, the chassis for the Formula Renault 3.5 Series is the Dallara T08 and the engine a 3.5 litre V6 Nissan VQ35 unit producing 480 bhp with a rev limit of 8500 rpm. The gearbox is a 6 speed semi-automatic supplied by Ricardo with steering wheel paddle shift. Total weight of the car is 600 kg (dry).

Starting from 2012 season, the Formula Renault 3.5 Series adopted a new chassis, the Dallara T12, powered by a 3.4 litre V8 engine producing 530 BHP at 9250 rpm developed by Zytek. The cars have 50 more horsepower than previous season and lost 15 kg (33 pounds) of weight. In addition, a Drag Reduction System is used, which operates in a similar way to the one in use in Formula One.[7]

Specifications

Champions

World Series by Nissan

SeasonSeries NameChampionTeam ChampionRef
1998Open Fortuna by Nissan Marc Gené Campos Motorsportalign=center [8]
1999Euro Open MoviStar by Nissan Fernando Alonso Campos Motorsportalign=center [9]
2000Open Telefónica by Nissan Antonio García Campos Motorsportalign=center [10]
2001Open Telefónica by Nissan Franck Montagny Vergani Racingalign=center [11]
2002Telefónica World Series Ricardo Zonta Racing Engineeringalign=center [12]
2003Superfund World Series Franck Montagny Gabord Competiciónalign=center [13]
2004World Series by Nissan Heikki Kovalainen Pons Racingalign=center [14]
NOTE – 1998–2001, mainly Spanish-based series (also known as Formula Nissan) with 2.0L engine.
NOTE – 2002–2004, international series with V6 engine.

World Series Light

SeasonChampionTeam ChampionRef
2002 Santiago Porteiro Meycomalign=center [15]
2003 Juan Cruz Álvarez Meycomalign=center [16]
2004 Miloš Pavlović Vergani Racingalign=center [17]

Formula Renault 3.5 Series

SeasonChampionTeam ChampionRookie of the yearRef
2005 Robert Kubica Epsilon Euskadialign=center rowspan=2 not awardedalign=center [18]
2006 Alx Danielsson Interwetten.comalign=center [19]
2007 Álvaro Parente Tech 1 Racing Filipe Albuquerquealign=center [20]
2008 Giedo van der Garde Tech 1 Racing Charles Picalign=center [21]
2009 Bertrand Baguette International DracoRacing Oliver Turveyalign=center [22]
2010 Mikhail Aleshin Tech 1 Racing Daniel Ricciardoalign=center [23]
2011 Robert Wickens Carlin Alexander Rossialign=center [24]
2012 Robin Frijns Tech 1 Racing Robin Frijnsalign=center [25]
2013 Kevin Magnussen DAMS Stoffel Vandoornealign=center [26]
2014 Carlos Sainz Jr. DAMS Pierre Gaslyalign=center [27]
2015 Oliver Rowland Fortec Motorsports Nyck de Vriesalign=center [28]

World Series Formula V8 3.5

SeasonChampionTeam ChampionRef
2016 Tom Dillmann Arden Motorsportalign=center [29]
2017 Pietro Fittipaldi Lotusalign=center [30]

Notable drivers

Formula One drivers in the future and/or past

Champions in other categories

Other notable drivers

Television broadcast

World Series by Renault races were broadcast live as part of a package of the combined open-wheel and touring car races on the pan-European Eurosport subscription channel or its sister stations Eurosport2 and British Eurosport. Eurosport is also on-sold to several non-European networks, extending World Series by Renault's international reach as far as South East Asia and Oceania. The races are also carried live by Estonia channel Kanal 12[31] and Spain channel Aragon TV.[32] Abbreviated highlights packages were carried by several other television networks and stations, including the British channels Sky Sports and MotorsTV, the Dutch RTL 7 channel, ESPN Star Sports in Asia, Speed in South America and Esporte Interativo in Brazil.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: New Formula Renault 3.5 unveiled at Silverstone. renault-sport.com. Renault Sport. 20 August 2011. 24 August 2011.
  2. News: MICHELIN TO REMAIN AS FORMULA RENAULT 3.5 TYRE SUPPLIER. Hensby. Paul. The Checkered Flag. 19 October 2015.
  3. News: Renault in handover talks for Formula Renault 3.5 in 2016. 1 August 2015. Mills. Peter. autosport.com. Haymarket Media. 31 July 2015.
  4. News: Formula Renault 3.5 renamed as Formula 3.5 V8 for 2016 season. 7 December 2016. autosport.com. Haymarket Media. 19 October 2015.
  5. News: The FIA approves the name "World Series" for the Formula V8 3.5. Formula V8 3.5. 5 December 2016. 5 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220095640/http://www.formulav8.com/the-fia-approves-the-name-world-series-for-the-formula-v8-3-5/. 2016-12-20. dead.
  6. News: Hudson. Joe. Formula V8 3.5 cancels 2018 season due to lack of entries. 17 November 2017. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 17 November 2017.
  7. Web site: New Formula Renault 3.5 racer unveiled at Silverstone. Noah. Joseph. Autoblog. 25 June 2017.
  8. Web site: Formula Euro Open Nissan - 1998: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  9. Web site: Formula Euro Open Nissan - 1999: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  10. Web site: Formula Euro Open Nissan - 2000: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  11. Web site: Formula Euro Open Nissan - 2001: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Formula Super Nissan World Series - 2002: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  13. Web site: Formula Nissan V6 World Series - 2003: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  14. Web site: Formula Nissan V6 World Series - 2004: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  15. Web site: Formula Nissan 2000 - 2002: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  16. Web site: World Series Light - 2003: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  17. Web site: World Series Light - 2004: Point standings. Speedsport Magazine. 23 February 2024.
  18. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2005. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  19. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2006. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  20. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2007. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  21. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2008. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  22. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2009. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  23. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2010. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  24. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2011. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  25. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2012. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  26. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2013. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  27. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2014. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  28. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2015. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  29. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2016. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  30. Web site: World Series Formula V8 3.5 Standings 2017. Motorsport Stats. 23 February 2024.
  31. Web site: LIVE! Kevin Korjuse sõit jätkub Kanal 12-s sel pühapäeval . 2012-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042432/http://www.eestisport.ee/uudised/62-automoto/3080-live-kevin-korjuse-soit-jatkub-kanal-12-s-sel-puhapaeval.html . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  32. Web site: Aragón TV - Aragón Televisión. www.aragontelevision.es. 25 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020739/http://www.aragontelevision.es/index.php/mod.documentos/mem.volcar/iddocumento.4083/chk.98ee6bc6b35359789155c2b26145849a.html. 2016-03-05. dead.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "World Series Formula V8 3.5".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.