World Series Formula V8 3.5
CountryGlobal
Inaugural season1998
Folded2017
ConstructorsDallara
Engine suppliersZytek badged as Renault (2011–2015)
Zytek (2016–2017)[1]
Tyre suppliersMichelin[2]
Last Drivers' championBrazil Pietro Fittipaldi
Last Teams' championCzech Republic Lotus
Official websiteOfficial 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

Formula Renault 3.5 Series at Donington Park in 2007.

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

  • Engine displacement: 3.4 L (207 cu in) DOHC V8
  • Gearbox: 6-speed paddle shift gearbox (must have reverse)
  • Weight: 623 kg (1,373 lb)
  • Power output: 530 hp (395 kW)
  • Torque output: 330 lb⋅ft (447 N⋅m)
  • Fuel: Elf LMS 102 RON unleaded
  • Fuel capacity: 29 US gallons (110 litres)
  • Fuel delivery: Fuel injection
  • Aspiration: Normally-aspirated
  • Length: 5,070 mm (200 in)
  • Width: 1,930 mm (76 in)
  • Wheelbase: 3,125 mm (123 in)
  • Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion

Champions

World Series by Nissan

Season Series Name Champion Team Champion
1998 Open Fortuna by Nissan Spain Marc Gené Spain Campos Motorsport
1999 Euro Open MoviStar by Nissan Spain Fernando Alonso Spain Campos Motorsport
2000 Open Telefónica by Nissan Spain Antonio García Spain Campos Motorsport
2001 Open Telefónica by Nissan France Franck Montagny Italy Vergani Racing
2002 Telefónica World Series Brazil Ricardo Zonta Spain Racing Engineering
2003 Superfund World Series France Franck Montagny France Gabord Competición
2004 World Series by Nissan Finland Heikki Kovalainen Spain Pons Racing

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

Season Champion Team Champion
2002 Spain Santiago Porteiro Spain Meycom
2003 Argentina Juan Cruz Álvarez Spain Meycom
2004 Serbia Miloš Pavlović Italy Vergani Racing

Formula Renault 3.5 Series

Season Champion Team Champion Rookie of the year
2005 Poland Robert Kubica Spain Epsilon Euskadi not awarded
2006 Sweden Alx Danielsson Austria Interwetten.com
2007 Portugal Álvaro Parente France Tech 1 Racing Portugal Filipe Albuquerque
2008 Netherlands Giedo van der Garde France Tech 1 Racing France Charles Pic
2009 Belgium Bertrand Baguette Portugal International DracoRacing United Kingdom Oliver Turvey
2010 Russia Mikhail Aleshin France Tech 1 Racing Australia Daniel Ricciardo
2011 Canada Robert Wickens United Kingdom Carlin United States Alexander Rossi
2012 Netherlands Robin Frijns France Tech 1 Racing Netherlands Robin Frijns
2013 Denmark Kevin Magnussen France DAMS Belgium Stoffel Vandoorne
2014 Spain Carlos Sainz Jr. France DAMS France Pierre Gasly
2015 United Kingdom Oliver Rowland United Kingdom Fortec Motorsports Netherlands Nyck de Vries

World Series Formula V8 3.5

Season Champion Team Champion
2016 France Tom Dillmann United Kingdom Arden Motorsport
2017 Brazil Pietro Fittipaldi Czech Republic Lotus

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[8] and Spain channel Aragon TV.[9] 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

References

  1. "New Formula Renault 3.5 unveiled at Silverstone". renault-sport.com. Renault Sport. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  2. Hensby, Paul. "MICHELIN TO REMAIN AS FORMULA RENAULT 3.5 TYRE SUPPLIER". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  3. Mills, Peter (31 July 2015). "Renault in handover talks for Formula Renault 3.5 in 2016". autosport.com. Haymarket Media. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  4. "Formula Renault 3.5 renamed as Formula 3.5 V8 for 2016 season". autosport.com. Haymarket Media. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  5. "The FIA approves the name "World Series" for the Formula V8 3.5". Formula V8 3.5. 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  6. Hudson, Joe (17 November 2017). "Formula V8 3.5 cancels 2018 season due to lack of entries". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  7. Joseph, Noah. "New Formula Renault 3.5 racer unveiled at Silverstone". Autoblog. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  8. "LIVE! Kevin Korjuse sõit jätkub Kanal 12-s sel pühapäeval". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  9. "Aragón TV - Aragón Televisión". www.aragontelevision.es. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
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