The 2009 Formula Renault 3.5 Series was the fifth Formula Renault 3.5 Series season. It began on 18 April at the Circuit de Catalunya and finished on 25 October at the brand-new Ciudad del Motor de Aragón in Alcañiz. It was the fifth season of the Renault-backed single-seater category. International DracoRacing driver Bertrand Baguette won the championship by a comfortable margin, having dominated the second half of the season. His team won their respective championship, ahead of Carlin Motorsport.
After debuting in the 2008 season, the aerodynamics of the current Dallara chassis underwent "minor enhancements inspired by the 2009 F1 regulations".
A number of changes were made to the sporting regulations in order to reduce costs and better showcase drivers' talent:
The Thursday test sessions at each meeting were scrapped, replaced with two one-hour sessions on the Friday.
The duration of each race was extended to 44 minutes + one lap.
A bonus point was awarded to the driver who climbed the most places during each race.
In addition, at the halfway point of the season (after the Hungaroring round) the championship leader got the opportunity to demonstrate a Renault R28 F1 car at a World Series meeting. After the seventh race of the season both Marcos Martínez and Bertrand Baguette were tied at the top of the standings, but by virtue of his three race wins, Martínez received the prize drive during the next round at Silverstone.
And just like in previous years, the eventual champion earned a full test with the ING Renault F1 team at the end of the season. Baguette won the title at the Nürburgring, to earn that test with the team.
Teams and drivers
R = Series rookie for 2009
KTR were due to race with car numbers 25 and 26, however the team pulled out on 1 April 2009 after team boss Kurt Mollekens stated that he was unable to secure a driver line-up for the season. It was announced on 14 May 2009 that KMP Group/SG Formula will take up their entries.
Changed Teams
Pasquale Di Sabatino: Red Devil Team Comtec → RC Motorsport
Esteban Guerrieri: Ultimate Motorsport → RC Motorsport
Alexandre Marsoin: Epsilon Euskadi → Comtec Racing
Miguel Molina: Prema Powerteam → Ultimate Motorsport
Daniil Move: KTR → P1 Motorsport
Sten Pentus: Red Devil Team Comtec → Mofaz Fortec Motorsport
James Walker: Fortec Motorsport → P1 Motorsport
Entering/Re-Entering FR3.5
Jaime Alguersuari: British F3 (Carlin Motorsport) → Carlin Motorsport
Jules Bianchi: Formula Three Euroseries (ART Grand Prix) → KMP Group/SG Formula
Max Chilton: British F3 (Carlin Motorsport) → Comtec Racing
Dani Clos: GP2 Series (Racing Engineering) → Epsilon Euskadi
Stefano Coletti: Formula Three Euroseries (Prema Powerteam) → Prema Powerteam
Chris van der Drift: International Formula Master (JD Motorsport) → Epsilon Euskadi
Salvador Durán: A1 Grand Prix (A1 Team Mexico) → Interwetten.com
Brendon Hartley: British F3 (Carlin Motorsport) → Tech 1 Racing
Tobias Hegewald: Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (Motopark Academy) → Interwetten.com
Michael Herck: GP2 Series (DPR) → Interwetten.com
Keisuke Kunimoto: Formula Nippon (Team LeMans) → Epsilon Euskadi
Jon Lancaster: Formula Three Euroseries (ART Grand Prix) → Comtec Racing
Omar Leal: Euroseries 3000 (Durango) → Prema Powerteam
Federico Leo: ATS Formel 3 Cup (Ombra Racing) → Pons Racing
Mihai Marinescu: Formula BMW Europe (FMS International) → Interwetten.com/RC Motorsport
John Martin: A1 Grand Prix (A1 Team Australia)/British F3 (Räikkönen Robertson Racing) → Comtec Racing
Greg Mansell: Atlantic Championship (Walker Racing) → USR/Comtec Racing
Bruno Méndez: European F3 Open Championship (Campos Racing) → RC Motorsport
Guillaume Moreau: FIA GT Championship (Luc Alphand Aventures) → KMP Group/SG Formula
Cristiano Morgado: Formula Volkswagen (Morgado Racing) → Comtec Racing
Edoardo Mortara: GP2 Series (Arden International) → KMP Group/SG Formula & Tech 1 Racing
Anton Nebylitskiy: Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (SG Drivers' Project) → Comtec Racing & KMP Group/SG Formula
Frankie Provenzano: International Formula Master (ADM Motorsport) → Prema Powerteam
Daniel Ricciardo: British F3 (Carlin Motorsport) → Tech 1 Racing
Filip Salaquarda: International Formula Master (ISR Racing) → RC Motorsport
Harald Schlegelmilch: International Formula Master (Trident Racing) → Comtec Racing
Oliver Turvey: British F3 (Carlin Motorsport) → Carlin Motorsport
Alberto Valerio: GP2 Series (Piquet GP) → Comtec Racing
Adrián Vallés: GP2 Series (BCN Competicion) → Epsilon Euskadi
Adrian Zaugg: A1 Grand Prix (A1 Team South Africa) → Interwetten.com
Leaving FR3.5
Mikhail Aleshin: Carlin Motorsport → FIA Formula Two Championship
Borja García: RC Motorsport → Atlantic Championship (Condor Motorsports)
Giedo van der Garde: P1 Motorsport → GP2 Series (iSport International)
Julien Jousse: Tech 1 Racing → FIA Formula Two Championship
Pippa Mann: P1 Motorsport → Indy Lights (Panther Racing)
Mario Romancini: Epsilon Euskadi → Indy Lights (RLR/Andersen Racing)
Duncan Tappy: RC Motorsport → Indy Lights (Genoa Racing)
Robert Wickens: Carlin Motorsport → FIA Formula Two Championship
Race calendar and results
Seven rounds formed meetings of the 2009 World Series by Renault season, with additional rounds supporting the Monaco Grand Prix and the 1000 km of Algarve.
Points for both championships are awarded as follows:
In addition, a bonus point will be awarded to the driver who climbs the most places in the race order during each race.
The maximum number of points a driver can earn each weekend (except Monaco) is 32 and the maximum number for a team is 57. At Monaco and Portimão, a different point system was implemented, with the qualifying points awarded to each group as there is no Super Pole session.
Polesitter for feature race in bold and is awarded four points. Second and third placed drivers in the Super Pole session receive 2 & 1 points respectively.
Driver with asterisk recorded fastest lap. No points are awarded.
Driver who retired but was classified denoted by †.
Driver who gained most positions in a race in italics, and is awarded one point.
