The series will run over nine weekends this year, running as
a support race to Formula One at Monaco, and also going to the newly built
Moscow Raceway in July. With its long
practice sessions at each event, Formula Renault 3.5 actually offers more total
track time than GP2, giving its drivers vital experience behind the wheel.
This season is the first in which the chassis used will be
Dallara’s T12, and also features a new V8 engine, the ZRS03, which promises to
deliver 50bhp more than the old Nissan engines, as well as a Drag Reduction
System (DRS) like Formula One’s.
Here’s your guide to the teams and drivers:
Carlin
Carlin are the current Formula Renault 3.5 champions, and
last season took Robert Wickens and Jean-Éric Vergne to first and second in the
championship respectively. Having been
in the sport since 2003, Carlin have an established history of winning in
Formula Renault 3.5 and will likely continue that this year and challenge
strongly for the title.
I predict – 4th
1. Kevin
Magnussen
The son of former Formula One driver Jan Magnussen, Kevin
Magnussen was runner-up in last year’s British Formula Three championship, in
which he also drove for Carlin. As part
of McLaren’s Young Driver Programme it’s clear that others believe he has what
it takes to make it in motorsport, and with a seat at Carlin he will probably
be one of the title challengers.
I predict – 6th
2. Will
Stevens
Will Stevens has graduated to Formula Renault 3.5 from
Formula Renault 2.0, where he took fourth place in the championship driving for
Fortec Motorsport last year. Stevens is
a solid driver, if somewhat unspectacular so far, and should take some podiums
this year.
I predict – 13th
Fortec Motorsports
While they have never won either the drivers’ or teams’
titles in Formula Renault 3.5, Fortec Motorsports has a strong history in
motorsport, and even with the challenge of an all-rookie team, should do well
this season and challenge for wins.
I predict – 5th
3. Carlos
Huertas
In last season’s British Formula Three championship Huertas
finished third, and this year graduates to Formula Renault 3.5. Given that this season is his debut, he might
need this season to get used to Formula Renault 3.5, so a podium finish might
count as a good result.
I predict – 14th
4. Robin
Frijns
The reigning Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion, Frijns
beat the highly rated Carlos Sainz, Jr. to the title last season, and now makes
the step up to Formula Renault 3.5. Also
a European Formula BMW champion, Frijns learns quickly and has some experience
in World Series by Renault, and so could challenge for the title this season.
I predict – 4th
ISR
Czech team ISR provided the seat for Daniel Ricciardo last
season before he graduated to Formula One.
ISR managed to win races in its debut year in 2010, and last season won
the round at Monaco. With a strong
driver line-up they should pick up more wins this season.
I predict – 6th
5. Sam Bird
For the last two seasons Bird has been the test driver for
Mercedes GP Formula One team and driven in GP2 and now moves to Formula Renault
3.5. Despite being a highly rated
driver, and having some decent drives, Sam Bird never managed to make much
impact upon GP2 Series. Now that he is
driving in Formula Renault 3.5 it is possible that he will be able to get more
running in Formula One, and as an experienced driver should get up to speed
quickly.
I predict – 9th
6. Jake
Rosenzweig
English-born American Jake Rosenzweig returns for his third
season in Formula Renault 3.5. Despite
having some good race seats he has never managed to finish higher than 4th
in a race in his two years in the series.
If he is ever to step onto the podium, this would be the year to do so
now that he has two years experience and a good team behind him.
I predict – 15th
Tech 1 Racing
Tech 1 Racing are one of the top outfits in Formula Renault
3.5, having taken the Teams’ Championship 3 times and the Drivers’ Championship
once. Since taking their first race win
in 2007 the team have always won at least one race each season. This season Tech 1 have one of the best
driver line-ups on the grid, and will probably finish as one of the top two
teams.
I predict – 1st
7. Kevin
Korjus
2010’s Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup champion, Kevin Korjus
made his debut in Formula Renault 3.5 last season, and despite being a rookie
managed to take 3 wins on his way to 6th in the championship. Currently the youngest driver to ever win a
Formula Renault 3.5 race, Korjus should be a title challenger this season, and
his main challenge will be to beat his team-mate.
I predict – 1st
8. Jules
Bianchi
Part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Bianchi grabbed
attention when he won the 2009 Formula Three Euroseries championship in
dominant style. For the last two years
Bianchi has been driving in GP2 Series, where he finished 3rd in the
championship in both seasons. This
season Bianchi will be combining running in Formula Renault 3.5 with test
duties for Force India. A very talented
driver, but needing time to mature before Formula One (last season Bianchi
crashed a few too many times), if he can perform consistently and avoid the
walls and other drivers he should be a title contender.
I predict – 3rd
P1 Motorsport
Norfolk-based team P1 Motorsport were originally created in
order to compete in the British Formula Three championship before moving to
Formula Renault 3.5 in 2007. In 2008 the
team took Giedo van der Garde to the drivers’ championship, but in recent years
have struggled to make the same impact.
This year I do not see things improving much for them.
I predict – 11th
9. Walter
Grubmüller
The high point of Walter Grubmüller’s career so far has
probably been coming 2nd in 2009’s British Formula Three
championship. Since then he has been
racing for P1 Motorsport in Formula Renault 3.5, but has failed to win a single
race or even step on to the podium yet.
While he does now have two seasons’ experience under his belt, I think
this season will most likely see more of the same.
I predict – 23rd
10. Daniil
Move
Daniil Move is the oldest driver competing in Formula
Renault 3.5 this season and has competed in the series since 2007. Coming into his 6th season in the
series, Move has hardly prospered so far, though he has never been atrocious
either. This season stepping onto the
podium will probably constitute a success.
I predict – 20th
Lotus
Formula Renault 3.5’s Lotus is not the same Lotus that competes
in Formula One (which is really Renault...or Benetton...or Toleman...), or even
the same Lotus that competes in GP2 (which is really ART). No, this Lotus is Czech team Charouz Racing
System. With two rookies driving for the
team in 2012, whether they have a successful season or not will depend on how
quickly these drivers adapt.
Lotus – 2nd
11. Richie
Stanaway
Aiming to be the first Kiwi driver in Formula One since Mike
Thackwell in 1984, last season Richie Stanaway won the German Formula Three
championship in convincing style, taking 13 wins from 18 races over the course
of the season. Stanaway is a very
talented driver, and has already racked up an impressive number of titles: in
addition to being German Formula Three champion, he has also won the ADAC Formel
Masters and the MTA Formula Ford Championship.
He should take well to Formula Renault 3.5, and could easily win races
in his first season.
I predict – 2nd
12. Marco
Sørensen
Joining Stanaway at Lotus is the driver he beat to last
season’s German Formula Three championship, Danish driver Marco Sørensen. Sørensen clearly has some talent to him, but
I would expect him to be outclassed over the course of the season by Stanaway,
just like he was last season.
I predict – 10th
BVM Target
Last season was BVM Target’s first in Formula Renault
3.5. Despite having never competed in
the series before the team performed well, taking a podium and finishing 8th
in the teams’ championship. This season
sees them team up with Max Travin Racing, who originally had made a bid to
enter Formula Renault 3.5 as a team. Now
that they have a season’s experience they could well improve on that
performance and finish higher in the championship.
I predict – 10th
15. Giovanni
Venturini
In his debut season in Auto GP last year Venturini took two
wins, and now moves into Formula Renault 3.5, having spent the end of last year
testing. It is possible that he could do
as well as securing a podium finish, but I think that finishing regularly in
the points would constitute a positive result for him this season.
I predict – 21st
16. Nikolay
Martsenko
When Max Travin Racing were looking to enter Formula Renault
3.5 they were intending to have Nikolay Martsenko as one of their drivers. Now that Max Travin Racing are partnering BVM
Target, Martsenks has been placed at the Italian team. Martsenko is lucky to have friends in high
places, otherwise he probably wouldn’t have made it into Formula Renault 3.5.
I predict – 26th
Team RFR
Team RFR (Russia France Racing) is the new name of KMP Racing which competed in Formula Renault 3.5 last year. While there is still a French influence in the shape of team principal Bruno Besson, the driver line-up is definitely Russian. Given that the drivers have so much experience in Formula Renault 3.5, the team should finish higher than last season’s 10th place.
I predict – 8th
17. Mikhail
Aleshin
It is clear that Mikhail Aleshin definitely has the talent
to win Formula Renault 3.5, as he has done so before, in 2010. I feel, however, that he should really be in
Formula One by now, and it increasingly looks like he will never make it
there. Last season he was unfortunate to
be driving for Carlin in GP2 as both he and the team made their debuts in the
series, and it contributed to both struggling to make an impact before Aleshin
was replaced. Hopefully this season
Aleshin will return to form and pick up at least one race win.
I predict – 8th
18. Anton
Nebylitskiy
Continuing the Russian theme at Team RFR is Anton
Nebylitskiy. This will be Nebylitskiy’s
4th season in Formula Renault 3.5, so he is definitely experienced. Despite his experience, however, he has
looked little more than average so far.
I think he should finish in the points reasonably consistently this
season.
I predict – 25th
Pons Racing
Pons Racing began on two wheels rather than on four, being a
leading motorcycle team. They have been
successful at this level, however, taking Heikki Kovalainen to the last World
Series by Nissan title. Since then they
have not experienced a similar level of success, and will probably struggle
again this season.
I predict – 12th
19. Zoël
Amberg
Swiss driver Zoël Amberg was 2010’s Formula Renault 2.0
Middle European champion, finishing either 1st or 2nd in
every race he entered, but last year he had a difficult season in GP3. He had a better time in the European F3 Open;
despite only entering the last three rounds of the season he won one race and
took 50 points on his way to 8th in the championship. Hopefully his Formula Renault 3.5 experience
will be more like his time in European F3 Open than his time in GP3.
I predict – 16th
20. Yann Cunha
Yann Cunha had a torrid time last season; he was adjudged to
have broken British F3’s rules about in-season testing, landing him a penalty
which left him on negative points for the season. He did a little better in the races he drove
in European F3 Open, winning one. Last
season was not representative of his talent, in my opinion, so he should do
better in Formula Renault 3.5.
I predict – 22nd
International Draco
Racing
In the first three seasons of Formula Renault 3.5
International Draco Racing finished 2nd in the teams’ championship
and won it in 2009. Last season,
however, they were not at the level they have come to expect, and they finished
12th. As a decent team, International
Draco Racing should improve this season, and get back to something
approximating their previous form.
I predict – 9th
21. Nico
Müller
In GP3 over the last two seasons Nico Müller has performed
well, finishing 3rd in his debut season and 4th last
season. In pre-season testing he has
been running well, and given that he seems to adapt well he could take a win
this season.
I predict – 12th
22. André
Negrão
André Negrão drove for International Draco Racing last
season and took 20 points, all but 6 of the points that the team picked up as a
whole. This season he returns and will
hope to improve. Managed by Ricardo
Tedeschi, who previously managed Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa, Negrão
should perform well and continue to build on his debut season.
I predict – 18th
Comtec Racing
Of the teams that competed last season, Comtec Racing
finished bottom, scoring only two points, these coming in the last race of the
season. Given that they were over 20
points away from 12th place last season, even an improvement may not
lift them far up the rankings.
I predict – 13th
23. Vittorio
Ghirelli
In his two seasons in GP3 Vittorio Ghirelli failed to score a
single point. An Italian karting
champion, Ghirelli does still have time on his side in his open wheel career,
given that he is only 17 years old.
Hopefully he’s taken some lessons from his tough time in GP3 and will
apply these in Formula Renault 3.5. If
he does he could score some points.
I predict - 24th
24. Nick
Yelloly
Nick Yelloly is another GP3 graduate. His last season was not excellent, except for
an inspired weekend at Silverstone where he picked up all of his 7 points,
including a 3rd place finish in the feature race. He also drove in 3 rounds of the Formula
Renault 3.5 season, taking 2nd place at the final race at
Catalunya. Given how quickly he adapted
to Formula Renault 3.5 last season, he could carry this form into the new
season and do well.
I predict – 17h
Arden Caterham
Christian Horner’s team Arden International make their debut
in Formula Renault 3.5 this season, teaming up with Formula One team
Caterham. The combination of these two
teams and a very strong driver line-up makes Arden Caterham a force to be
reckoned with, even without experience of the series.
I predict – 3rd
25. Alexander
Rossi
Representing Caterham in the marriage of the two is American
Alexander Rossi. A force in Formula BMW,
last season he finished 3rd in the Formula Renault 3.5 championship
driving for Fortec Motorsport. Assuming
that Arden Caterham do adapt well to Formula Renault 3.5, he should mount a
title challenge this season.
I predict – 5th
26. Lewis
Williamson
Representing Christian Horner’s teams is Lewis Williamson, a
recent recruit to the Red Bull Junior Team.
Lewis Williamson has already been recognised for his potential as a
young driver, winning the BRDC’s Rising Star award in 2009, and winning the
McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 2010.
Last season he competed in GP3, winning one race in his debut season,
and also got a chance in Formula Reanult 3.5, deputising for Daniel
Ricciardo. He could also challenge for
the title, if he is able to beat his team-mate.
I predict – 7th
DAMS
The second team chosen to join Formula Renault 3.5 this
season was DAMS, a successful team in many other series including GP2. DAMS last competed in Formula Renault 3.5 in
2005, but made the decision to return as a result of how strong the series has
become in their absence. As an
experienced motorsport outfit they should get up to speed quickly in Formula
Renault 3.5
I predict – 7th
27. Lucas
Foresti
The highlight of Lucas Foresti’s career so far has probably
been winning the Formula 3 Brazil Open two years in a row, both last year and
this year, dominating each time. A
Formula Renault 3.5 rookie, Foresti will probably pick up points, but might
struggle to get wins against more experienced competitors.
I predict – 19th
28. Arthur Pic
Arthur Pic is the younger brother of Formula One driver
Charles Pic, and last year made his debut in Formula Renault 3.5, driving for
Tech 1 Racing. Like current Formula One
driver Jean-Éric Vergne, Arthur Pic is a former Formul’Academy Euro Series
champion, winning the title in 2008. Pic
will hopefully improve upon his performance last season, but it might be
difficult to make much ground in a new team.
I
predict – 11th
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