Formula Renault

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 the Formula Renault 3.5 Series as part of the World Series by Renault in 2005. In 2016 the series became the World Series Formula V8 3.5.

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.

The cars

Engine: Renault Type V4Y RS, 60° V6, 3498 cc, 530 hp - since 2012 Zytek ZRS03 V8, 3396 cc, 530 hp

Chassis: Tatuus (Eurocup and Asia) or Dallara T02/T05/T08/T12 (World Series) Carbon-fibre Monocoque, carbon and fibreglass bodywork

Width: 1850 mm (72.8") maximum

Wheelbase: 3000–3125 mm

Track: 1579 mm (front) and 1536 mm (rear)

Weight: 616 kg

Fuel: 110 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

A Pan Am Formula Renault V6 series was planned to take place in 2005 but it never occurred.

Formula Renault 2.0

Formula Renault 2.0 descends 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.

2000–2009

The cars were open-wheelers, with Tatuus-made chassis running 2.0 L Renault Clio engines attached to a Sadev gearbox. 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. 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.

Dimensions and weight

Wheel Base: 2,645 mmFront Track: 1,434 mmRear Track: 1,318 mmMinimum Weight: 490 kg without driver / 565 kg with driver

Chassis

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.

Cockpit Interior

XAP Multi-Changeable Dashboard DisplayFIA-approved Safety FeaturesRoll Hoop and Lateral Driver's Head Protective PaddingDeformable, double-jointed steering columnRemovable steering wheelSix-point, 3-inch driver's shoulder and lap harnessesFT3 fuel cellManually operated 5 kg fire extinguisher

Engine

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.

Capacity: 1998 ccMax Output: 192 bhp (143 kW) at 6,500 rpmMax Torque: 22mkg (159lb.ft) at 5,500 rpmLubrication: Dry Sump, Elf Evolution LDX 5w/40Spark Plugs: NGK PFR6E10ECU: Sealed Magneti-Marelli MF4L ignition system

Gearbox

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.

Suspension

Front: Pushrod, controlled single damper with adjustable bump and reboundRear: Pushrod, controlled twin dampers with adjustable bump and rebound

Brake

The brakes are four-pot calipers, with ventilated discs and Ferodo(type DS4003) pads. They include cockpit-adjustable bias front-to-rear.

Tyres

Front: 16/53 x 13 inches (330 mm)Rear: 23/57 x 13 inches (330 mm)Manufacturer: Michelin controlExceptionsAsia: Kumho (since 2002)Brazil: Pirelli (2002–2006)North America: Yokohama (since 2004)

Wheels

Front: 8 inches x 13 inches (330 mm)Rear: 10 inches x 13 inches (330 mm)Manufacturer: OZ

2010–today

Manufactured by Barazi-Epsilon EB01 A

Main changes to the previous models are:

Engine: 2.0L Renault F4R 832 - maximal output has been raised to 210 bhp (160 kW)

Gearbox is now 7-speed sequential

Championships

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 2000 to Formula Renault 2.0.

An Uruguyan 2.0L series is also held (José Pedro Passadores 2003 champion).

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 whom have gone onto win Grands Prix.

Formula Renault 2.0L timeline

"FR" = Formula Renault ; italic = Former series ; "Winter series" or "Winter" or "W" = Winter series of the above series

(a) = Formula Renault 2000 Masters; (b) = Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup; (c) = Formula Renault 2.0 Germany ; (d) = Formula Renault 2.0 Netherlands ; (e) = Renault Speed Trophy F2000; (f) = North American Fran Am 2000 Pro Championship; (g) = Rencontres Internationales de Formule Renault

Formula Renault 1.6L

This Formula Renault series is open to drivers between 14 and 21 years that have raced before in karting series.

The cars

The cars use K4M 1598cc Renault engines.

Winners

Only white square represent held championships.

Small name and flag represent Winter Series winner.

In Belgium 2007 championship, Karline Stala was the first ever woman to win a single seaters championship. She was invited to test the Formula Renault 3.5L at Circuit Paul Ricard in November 2007, like the best 2.0L and 3.5L drivers.

Formula Renault 1.6L timeline

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

Other formulas powered by Renault

Argentina organises several Formula Renault championships different from its official 2.0L series:

Fórmula Renault Plus (since 2007) with Renault Clio K4M engine (1598cc).

Fórmula Renault Interprovincial (since 2007) with 1.397 cc engine from Renault 12 T.S Break.

Fórmula 4 Nacional (in 2007) with Renault K4M engine (1598cc) with lower power than the official 1.6L series. Teams can choose chassis manufacturer. Races are held during the TC 2000 weekends.

Fórmula 4 Metropolitana (since 2008 season) with Renault K4M engine (1598cc) and replacing the Fórmula 4 Nacional series. Teams can choose chassis manufacturer.

Fórmula Super Renault with Dallara, Reynard, Ralt or TOM'S chassis and Renault 21, 18 or F3R 2.0L engine. In 2005, the championship wasn't held due to the low of participation.

In 2008, the Formula 2000 Light was created. 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 2007 in Central Europe. 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. 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. The series used Renault engines with constructor Tatuus and ran on Michelin provided tyres.

Winners

For GP Series winners, see GP2 Series, GP2 Asia Series and GP3 Series pages.

(N) : Fórmula 4 Nacional held only in 2007.

(1) = Thiemo Storz finish second overall but Pierluigi Veronesi, the series champion, use a Dallara Formula 3 car.