World Series Formula V8 3.5

TheWorld Series Formula V8 3.5,formerly theWorld Series by Nissanfrom 1998 to 2004, theFormula Renault 3.5 Seriesfrom 2005 to 2015 and theFormula V8 3.5in 2016 and 2017, was amotor racingseries promoted by RPM Racing (1998–2004) andRenault Sport(2005–2015).

World Series Formula V8 3.5

Category	Open-wheel single-seater Formula auto racing
Country	International
Inaugural season	1998
Folded	2017
Constructors	Dallara
Engine suppliers	Zytekbadged asRenault(2011–2015) Zytek(2016–2017)
Tyre suppliers	Michelin
Last Drivers' champion	Pietro Fittipaldi
Last Teams' champion	Lotus
Official website	Official website

History

Formula Renault 3.5 Series atDonington Parkin 2007.

The series came out of theSpanish Formula Renault Championship,which ran from 1991 to 1997. The World Series was founded asOpen Fortuna by Nissanin 1998, and was mostly based inSpain,but visited other countries throughout its history, including France, Italy, Portugal and Brazil. The organization was handled by RPM Comunicacion, founded byJaime 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 byColoni,with a 2.0 LNissan SR20 engine.The series slotted in betweenFormula ThreeandFormula 3000.In 2002, it adopted a new format, with chassis supplied byDallaraand the engine upgraded to theVQ30.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 inEurosport's Super Racing Weekends (European Touring Car ChampionshipandFIA GT Championship). The series ran withTatuuschassis 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 Eurocupand theEurocup Mégane Trophyalso joined the series in 2005 to support the main FR3.5 series.

At the end of July 2015,Renault Sportannounced 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.As a result of this, RPM decided to change the series' name to Formula V8 3.5.In December 2016, the series' name was changed again to World Series Formula V8 3.5, giving extra recognition to the championship. 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.

Technical

From 2008 to 2011, the chassis for the Formula Renault 3.5 Series is theDallara T08and 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, theDallara T12,powered by a 3.4 litre V8 engine producing 530 BHP at 9250 rpm developed byZytek.The cars have 50 more horsepower than previous season and lost 15 kg (33 pounds) of weight. In addition, aDrag Reduction Systemis used, which operates in a similar way to the one in use inFormula One.

Specifications

• Engine displacement:3.4 L (207 cu in)DOHCV8
• Gearbox:6-speedpaddle 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 LMS102 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-assistedrack and pinion

Champions

World Series by Nissan

Season	Series Name	Champion	Team Champion	Ref
1998	Open Fortuna by Nissan	Marc Gené	Campos Motorsport
1999	Euro Open MoviStar by Nissan	Fernando Alonso	Campos Motorsport
2000	Open Telefónica by Nissan	Antonio García	Campos Motorsport
2001	Open Telefónica by Nissan	Franck Montagny	Vergani Racing
2002	Telefónica World Series	Ricardo Zonta	Racing Engineering
2003	Superfund World Series	Franck Montagny	Gabord Competición
2004	World Series by Nissan	Heikki Kovalainen	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	Ref
2002	Santiago Porteiro	Meycom
2003	Juan Cruz Álvarez	Meycom
2004	Miloš Pavlović	Vergani Racing

Formula Renault 3.5 Series

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

World Series Formula V8 3.5

Season	Champion	Team Champion	Ref
2016	Tom Dillmann	Arden Motorsport
2017	Pietro Fittipaldi	Lotus

Notable drivers

Formula Onedrivers in the future and/or past

• Marc Gené(1998: Champion, 2003: 12th), competed in Formula One forMinardiandWilliams.
• Fernando Alonso(1999: Champion), competed in Formula One forMinardi,McLaren,Ferrari,Alpine,and was twice world champion withRenault.Currently competing in Formula One forAston Martin.
• Giorgio Pantano(1999: 21st), competed in Formula One forJordan.
• Franck Montagny(2001: Champion, 2002: 2nd, 2003: Champion), competed in Formula One forSuper Aguri,and with Andretti inFormula E.
• Ricardo Zonta(2002: Champion), 1997FIA GT Champion,competed in Formula One forBAR,JordanandToyota.
• Justin Wilson(2002: 4th), competed in Formula One forMinardiandJaguar,and inIndyCarforDale CoyneandAndretti Autosport.
• Narain Karthikeyan(2002: 9th, 2003: 4th, 2004: 6th), competed in Formula One forJordanandHRTin 2011.
• Heikki Kovalainen(2003: 2nd, 2004: Champion), competed in Formula One forRenault,McLaren,CaterhamandTeam Lotus.
• Enrique Bernoldi(2003: 6th, 2004: 3rd), competed in Formula One forArrows.
• Stéphane Sarrazin(2003: 7th), competed in Formula One forMinardi,currently withSMP Racingin theFIA World Endurance Championship.
• Tiago Monteiro(2004: 2nd), competed in Formula One forJordanandMidland/Spyker.Currently competing in World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) withMunnich Motorsport.
• Robert Kubica(2005: Champion), competed in Formula One forBMW Sauber,Renault,Williams F1,andAlfa Romeo Racing.
• Markus Winkelhock(2005: 3rd), one-off Formula One drive forSpyker(Nurburgring 2007).
• Kamui Kobayashi(2005 Eurocup: 1st), competed in Formula One forToyota,SauberandCaterham.
• Karun Chandhok(2005: 29th), competed in Formula One forHRTandLotus.
• Pastor Maldonado(2005: 25th; 2006: 3rd), competed in Formula One forWilliamsandLotus.
• Sebastian Vettel(2006: 15th, 2007: 5th − 1st after seven races, when withdrew to compete in F1), competed in Formula One forBMW Sauber,Toro Rosso,Ferrari,Aston Martin,and was four time Formula One world champion withRed Bull Racing.
• Giedo van der Garde(2007: 6th, 2008: Champion), competed in Formula One forCaterham.
• Jaime Alguersuari(2009: 6th), competed in Formula One forToro Rosso.
• Daniel Ricciardo(2010: 2nd; 2011: 5th), competed in Formula One forHRT,Toro Rosso,Red Bull Racing,Renault,McLarenandAlphaTauri.Currently competing forRB.
• Jean-Éric Vergne(2010: 8th; 2011: 2nd), competed in Formula One forToro Rosso,currently competing forDS Penskein Formula E.
• Robin Frijns(2012: Champion), Formula One reserve driver forCaterhamin 2014.
• Jules Bianchi(2012: 2nd), last competed in Formula One withMarussia.On 5 October 2014, during the Japanese Grand Prix, Bianchi lost control of his Marussia in very wet conditions and collided with a recovery vehicle, suffering a brain injury. He underwent emergency surgery and was placed into an induced coma, and remained comatose until his death on 17 July 2015.
• Will Stevens(2012: 12th; 2013: 4th; 2014: 6th), competed in Formula One forCaterhamandMarussia.
• Sergey Sirotkin(2013: 8th), competed in Formula One forWilliams.
• Kevin Magnussen(2013: Champion), competed in Formula One withMcLarenandRenault.Currently competing in Formula One forHaas.
• Stoffel Vandoorne(2013: 2nd), competed in Formula One forMcLaren,currently competing forDS Penskein Formula E.
• Roberto Merhi(2014: 3rd; 2015: 14th), competed in Formula One forMarussia.
• Carlos Sainz Jr.(2014: Champion), competed in Formula One forToro Rosso,Renault,andMcLaren.Currently competing in Formula One forFerrari.
• Alfonso Celis Jr.(2014: 27th; 2015: 16th; 2016: 11th; 2017: 3rd), development driver in Formula One forForce Indiafrom 2016 until 2017.
• Esteban Ocon(2014: 23rd), competed in Formula One forForce IndiaandRenault.Currently competing in Formula One forAlpine.
• Pierre Gasly(2014: 2nd), competed in Formula One forScuderia Toro Rosso,Red Bull Racing,andAlphaTauri.Currently competing in Formula One forAlpine.
• Pietro Fittipaldi(2017 Champion), competed in Formula One forHaas F1 Team.Reserve/development driver forHaas F1 Teamin 2023.
• Nyck de Vriescompeted in Formula One forWilliamsandAlphaTauri,currently competing forMahindrain Formula E.

Champions in other categories

• Andy Priaulx(2001: 18th) – 2004European Touring Car Championship(ETCC) Champion, 2005, 2006 and 2007World Touring Car Championship(WTCC) World Champion
• Matteo Bobbi(2001: 11th, 2002: 6th) – 2003FIA GT Champion
• Alex Lloyd(2005: 40th) –2007 Indy Lightschampion.
• Simon Pagenaud(2005: 16th) –2006 AtlanticsChampion2016 IndyCarchampion.
• Davide Valsecchi(2006: 10th, 2007: 16th) –2012 GP2 SeriesChampion.
• Will Power(2005: 7th)2014 IndyCar2022 IndyCarchampion.
• Miloš Pavlović(2005: 17th; 2006: 11th; 2007: 3rd) – 2014Lamborghini Super Trofeo

Other notable drivers

• Álvaro Parente(2006: 5th; 2007: 1st)GP2 Serieswinner, has driven and stood on the podium forSuper Nova Racing,Ocean Racing Technology,Scuderia Coloni,andRacing Engineering
• Esteban Guerrieri(2008: 8th, 2009: 19th, 2010: 3rd) 2011 and 2012Indy Lightsrunner-up forSam Schmidt Motorsports.2019 WTCRrunner-up.

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-EuropeanEurosportsubscription 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 channelKanal 12and Spain channelAragon TV.Abbreviated highlights packages were carried by several other television networks and stations, including the British channelsSky SportsandMotorsTV,the DutchRTL 7channel,ESPN Star Sportsin Asia,Speedin South America andEsporte Interativoin Brazil.

See also

• Formula Renault V6 Eurocup
• World Series by Renault

External links

• Formula V8 3.5 Official website
• Grupo Alesport (RPM Racing) Official website(in Spanish)
• World Series by Renault Official website