FR 3.5 Series: 24 cars at the start

The formula Renault 3.5 Series is launching its 2010 season where the previous one ended, on the Spanish circuit of Motorland Aragon. Twelve teams have been selected (list below) by the World Series by Renault Organizing Committee. The SG Formula and Interwetten.com Racing teams – managed by Motorsport Consulting GmbH – were not selected. On the other hand, a new structure, FHV Interwetten.com – managed by FHV GmbH – is appearing in the discipline, bringing the number of single-seaters to 24.

In the French camp, it is a disappointment, since SG Formula was one of the only two French teams and included in its ranks Jean-Eric Vergne, a very serious candidate for victory. The pilot of the Red Bull Junior Team particularly distinguished itself during pre-season testing, brilliantly alternating its laps in the FR 3.5 Series and in F3 British. From now on, French hopes will rest on Nathanaël Berthon (International Draco Racing) and Nelson Panciatici (Junior Lotus Racing).

However, they will have to face more experienced drivers, such as Jon Lancaster (Fortec Motorsport), Mikhail Aleshin (Carlin), Brendon Hartley (Tech 1 Racing), Federico Leo (Pons Racing), Greg Mansell (Comtec Racing), Sten Pentus (Fortec Motorsport), Daniil Move (Junior Lotus Racing) and Julian Leal (international Draco Racing). But experience is not the only key word and drivers such as Stefano Coletti (Comtec Racing), Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) and Daniel Ricciardo (Tech 1 Racing) hope to do well.

The Formula Renault meetings are changing shape this season. From now on, the inverted grid is no longer appropriate. Each day of competition will be independent of each other and a qualifying session will be held before each of the two races, on Saturday and Sunday. This will allow a poorly classified driver on Saturday to maintain chances of victory on Sunday, while not “condemning” the winning driver of the first race with the reverse grid principle.

In addition, except in Monaco, where only one race is on the program, the cars will race on Saturday in a light aerodynamic configuration. Smaller rear wing, limited steering angle, ban on skirts: drivers will have to know how to control their car in two different configurations, which could help shake up the hierarchy from one race to the next. The first meeting of the season is next Saturday, April 17, with the first race of the season at 14 p.m.