After a three-year cycle, the current Formula Renault 3.5 chassis was replaced by a brand new car built by Italian racecar constructor Dallara. The new car featured flex-fuel technology and could be powered by either premium unleaded petrol or E85bioethanol, which was a first for this level of motorsport in Europe. The RenaultV6 engine, prepared by French company Solution F, will also saw its power increased from 425 horsepower (317 kW) to 500 horsepower (370 kW).
The car also featured a new carbon bodyshell, as well as a new shaped front wing, hollowed sidepods and multiple side deflectors designed to improve aerodynamic performance. However, several areas of the car, including the gearbox, rear suspension and carbon brakes, remained the same in order to keep costs under control.[1]
The new car made its first public appearance on 21 September at the Magny-Cours round of the 2007 season,[2] with development driver Andy Soucek demonstrating the car at the final round of the series in Barcelona.[3]
In a change from recent years, only 26 cars (thirteen two-car teams) were allowed into the 2008 championship. The World Series by Renault organising committee announced twelve of the thirteen teams on 5 October 2007,[4] with newcomers Ultimate Signature confirmed as the final entrant on 12 October 2007.[5]
The 2008 season also saw the introduction of a new qualifying system to the FR3.5 Series.[6]
The 26 cars will be split into two equal groups, with each having a 20-minute session
The Top 6 drivers in each group (12 in total) will go forward to a 15-minute 'Super Pole' session
The grid for Race one is decided by reversing the finishing order of the Top 8 drivers in Super Pole. They are followed by the last four in Super Pole (in finishing order) and the remaining 14 drivers in the order they finished qualifying
For Race two, the Top 8 drivers from Super Pole line up in the order they finished the session, with the rest of the field decided by the finishing order of Race one
Teams and drivers[edit]
R = Series rookie for 2008
Team
No.
Driver name
Status
Rounds
Tech 1 Racing
1
Julien Jousse[7]
All
2
Charles Pic[7]
R
All
International DracoRacing
3
Bertrand Baguette[8]
All
4
Marco Barba[9]
All
Carlin Motorsport
5
Mikhail Aleshin[10]
All
6
Robert Wickens[10]
All
Epsilon Euskadi
7
Mario Romancini[11]
R
1–7
Filipe Albuquerque[12]
8–9
8
Alexandre Marsoin[13]
R
All
Prema Powerteam
9
Miguel Molina[14]
All
10
Álvaro Barba[15]
All
RC Motorsport
11
Aleix Alcaraz[16]
R
1–4
Claudio Cantelli[17]
R
5–9
12
Borja García[18]
1–3
Duncan Tappy[19]
R
4–5, 8–9
Paolo Maria Nocera[20]
R
6–7
Pons Racing
14
Máximo Cortés[21]
R
1–4
Aleix Alcaraz[22]
R
5–9
15
Marcos Martínez[21]
All
KTR
16
Daniil Move[23]
1–5
Siso Cunill[24]
R
6–9
17
Guillaume Moreau[25]
1–5
Sergey Afanasyev[26]
R
7–9
Interwetten.com Racing
19
Salvador Durán[27]
All
20
Pablo Sánchez López[27]
R
All
P1 Motorsport
21
Giedo van der Garde[28]
All
22
Pippa Mann[29]
All
Fortec Motorsport
23
James Walker[30]
All
24
Julian Theobald[31]
1–2
Fairuz Fauzy[32]
3–9
Red Devil Comtec Racing
25
Marco Bonanomi[33]
All
26
Pasquale Di Sabatino[34]
1–7
Sten Pentus[35]
R
9
Ultimate Signature
27
Fabio Carbone[36]
All
28
Claudio Cantelli[37]
R
1–3
Esteban Guerrieri[38]
4–9
Race calendar and results[edit]
The calendar for the 2008 season was confirmed by Renault Sport on 9 January 2008.[39] Seven rounds formed meetings of the 2008 World Series by Renault season, with additional rounds supporting the Monza 1000km and Monaco Grand Prix.
Round
Circuit
Date
Pole Position
Fastest Lap
Winning Driver
Winning Team
Rookie Winner
1
R1
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
26 April
Marcos Martínez
Giedo van der Garde
P1 Motorsport
Pablo Sánchez López
R2
27 April
Giedo van der Garde
Giedo van der Garde
Giedo van der Garde
P1 Motorsport
Charles Pic
2
R1
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
3 May
Giedo van der Garde
Bertrand Baguette
International DracoRacing
Alexandre Marsoin
R2
4 May
Marco Bonanomi
Giedo van der Garde
Giedo van der Garde
P1 Motorsport
Alexandre Marsoin
3
R1
Circuit de Monaco
25 May
Charles Pic
Charles Pic
Charles Pic
Tech 1 Racing
Charles Pic
4
R1
Silverstone Circuit
7 June
Salvador Durán
Salvador Durán
Interwetten.com Racing
Máximo Cortés
R2
8 June
Robert Wickens
Salvador Durán
Robert Wickens
Carlin Motorsport
Charles Pic
5
R1
Hungaroring
5 July
Julien Jousse
Giedo van der Garde
P1 Motorsport
Duncan Tappy
R2
6 July
Fabio Carbone
Fabio Carbone
Fabio Carbone
Ultimate Signature
Alexandre Marsoin
6
R1
Nürburgring
30 August
Fabio Carbone
Fabio Carbone
Ultimate Signature
Pablo Sánchez López
R2
31 August
Giedo van der Garde
Julien Jousse
Miguel Molina
Prema Powerteam
Pablo Sánchez López
7
R1
Bugatti Circuit
6 September
Robert Wickens
Charles Pic
Tech 1 Racing
Charles Pic
R2
7 September
Esteban Guerrieri
Robert Wickens
Giedo van der Garde
P1 Motorsport
Charles Pic
8
R1
Autódromo do Estoril
27 September
Álvaro Barba
Fabio Carbone
Ultimate Signature
Pablo Sánchez López
R2
28 September
Miguel Molina
Charles Pic
Miguel Molina
Prema Powerteam
Charles Pic
9
R1
Circuit de Catalunya
18 October
Robert Wickens
Julien Jousse
Tech 1 Racing
Charles Pic
R2
19 October
Esteban Guerrieri
Salvador Durán
Esteban Guerrieri
Ultimate Signature
Charles Pic
Season results[edit]
Points for both championships were awarded as follows:
Race
Qualifying
Position
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
PP
2nd
3rd
Sprint
12
10
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Feature
15
12
10
8
6
5
4
3
2
1
4
2
1
The maximum number of points a driver could earn each weekend (except Monaco) was 31 and the maximum number for a team was 55.
Drivers' Championship[edit]
Pos
Driver
MNZSPR
MNZFEA
SPASPR
SPAFEA
MONFEA
SILSPR
SILFEA
HUNSPR
HUNFEA
NÜRSPR
NÜRFEA
LMSSPR
LMSFEA
ESTSPR
ESTFEA
CATSPR
CATFEA
Points
1
Giedo van der Garde
1
1
Ret
1
2
5
2
1
21†
2
7
DNS
1
8
8
DNS
Ret
137
2
Julien Jousse
3
4
Ret
Ret
4
7
10
2
2
Ret
2
9
15
4
3
1
5
106
3
Fabio Carbone
DSQ
Ret
15
Ret
12
4
5
3
1
1
6
3
2
1
Ret
5
10
97
4
Miguel Molina
Ret
Ret
9
6
9
23
Ret
Ret
3
Ret
1
2
5
7
1
Ret
7
79
5
Mikhail Aleshin
5
5
5
3
6
Ret
18
9
15
3
DNS
6
4
9
23†
2
14
73
6
Charles Pic
9
3
Ret
12
1
15
13
18†
9
Ret
12
1
6
Ret
2
8
8
69
7
Bertrand Baguette
Ret
Ret
1
11
5
6
16
4
4
5
5
Ret
16
Ret
4
Ret
4
69
8
Esteban Guerrieri
22
4
Ret
12
12
9
4
3
5
6
Ret
1
62
9
Salvador Durán
Ret
14
2
4
16
1
3
Ret
16
4
DSQ
7
7
16
22†
Ret
12
61
10
Álvaro Barba
Ret
2
DNS
10
14
3
8
Ret
5
Ret
3
NC
12
2
Ret
6
Ret
58
11
Marco Bonanomi
Ret
DSQ
4
2
13
8
9
5
13
Ret
4
5
11
Ret
5
Ret
DNS
56
12
Robert Wickens
Ret
Ret
14
Ret
19
9
1
Ret
8
13
18
14
22
3
12
3
3
55
13
James Walker
7
7
Ret
16
8
10
12
7
10
Ret
13
Ret
9
Ret
14
7
2
36
14
Marco Barba
12
8
Ret
20
24†
12
7
10
7
Ret
10
10
8
6
10
16†
Ret
24
15
Marcos Martínez
Ret
Ret
Ret
9
15
2
6
13
Ret
11
11
15
24
11
7
Ret
Ret
21
16
Guillaume Moreau
8
6
3
14
7
13
11
Ret
Ret
20
17
Pablo Sánchez López
4
Ret
8
Ret
21
21
24
8
Ret
6
8
Ret
17
13
21
12
Ret
18
18
Fairuz Fauzy
3
Ret
15
12
14
DSQ
Ret
13
19
12
20
Ret
6
17
19
Alexandre Marsoin
14
Ret
6
7
20
17
25
17
6
Ret
16
11
10
20
16
9
15
17
20
Pasquale Di Sabatino
2
10
13
8
25†
11
14
11
11
Ret
15
12
14
16
21
Filipe Albuquerque
10
9
4
9
12
22
Daniil Move
13
13
11
5
22
24†
23
16
20
6
23
Duncan Tappy
16
21
6
19
14
11
10
Ret
6
24
Borja García
6
Ret
Ret
15
11
5
25
Pippa Mann
10
11
16
Ret
18
19
20
15
Ret
7
19
Ret
Ret
Ret
15
13
13
5
26
Máximo Cortés
17
16
7
13
10
14
17
5
27
Aleix Alcaraz
11
9
Ret
18
Ret
20
22
Ret
18
Ret
Ret
8
13
15
13
11
11
5
28
Claudio Cantelli
16
Ret
12
19
17
14
17
8
17
16
20
18
17
Ret
16
3
29
Mario Romancini
Ret
12
10
17
23†
18
19
Ret
Ret
9
Ret
Ret
18
3
30
Siso Cunill
10
NC
18
Ret
17
18
15
Ret
1
31
Sten Pentus
14
17
0
32
Paolo Maria Nocera
Ret
14
Ret
21
0
33
Julian Theobald
15
15
Ret
21
0
34
Sergey Afanasyev
17
23
19
19
Ret
Ret
0
Pos
Driver
MNZSPR
MNZFEA
SPASPR
SPAFEA
MONFEA
SILSPR
SILFEA
HUNSPR
HUNFEA
NÜRSPR
NÜRFEA
LMSSPR
LMSFEA
ESTSPR
ESTFEA
CATSPR
CATFEA
Points
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Retired (Ret)
Red
Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank
Did not participate (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Polesitter for feature race in bold
Driver in italics has been awarded two points for fastest lap
† — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
Teams' Championship[edit]
Pos
Team
Car No.
MNZSPR
MNZFEA
SPASPR
SPAFEA
MONFEA
SILSPR
SILFEA
HUNSPR
HUNFEA
NÜRSPR
NÜRFEA
LMSSPR
LMSFEA
ESTSPR
ESTFEA
CATSPR
CATFEA
Points
1
Tech 1 Racing
1
3
4
Ret
Ret
4
7
10
2
2
Ret
2
9
15
4
3
1
5
175
2
9
3
Ret
12
1
15
13
18†
9
Ret
12
1
6
Ret
2
8
8
2
Ultimate Signature
27
DSQ
Ret
15
Ret
12
4
5
3
1
1
6
3
2
1
Ret
5
10
159
28
16
Ret
12
19
17
22
4
Ret
12
12
9
4
3
5
6
Ret
1
3
P1 Motorsport
21
1
1
Ret
1
2
5
2
1
21†
2
7
DNS
1
8
8
DNS
Ret
142
22
10
11
16
Ret
18
19
20
15
Ret
7
19
Ret
Ret
Ret
15
13
13
4
Prema Powerteam
9
Ret
Ret
9
6
9
23
Ret
Ret
3
Ret
1
2
5
7
1
Ret
7
137
10
Ret
2
DNS
10
14
3
8
Ret
5
Ret
3
NC
12
2
Ret
6
Ret
5
Carlin Motorsport
5
5
5
5
3
6
Ret
18
9
15
3
DNS
6
4
9
23
2
14
128
6
Ret
Ret
14
Ret
19
9
1
Ret
8
13
18
14
22
3
12
3
3
6
International DracoRacing
3
Ret
Ret
1
11
5
6
16
4
4
5
5
Ret
16
Ret
4
Ret
4
93
4
12
8
Ret
20
24†
12
7
10
7
Ret
10
10
8
6
10
16
Ret
7
Interwetten.com
19
Ret
14
2
4
16
1
3
Ret
16
4
DSQ
7
7
16
22
Ret
12
79
20
4
Ret
8
Ret
21
21
24
8
Ret
6
8
Ret
17
13
21
12
Ret
8
Red Devil Team Comtec
25
Ret
DSQ
4
2
13
8
9
5
13
Ret
4
5
11
Ret
5
Ret
DNS
72
26
2
10
13
8
25†
11
14
11
11
Ret
15
12
14
14
17
9
Fortec Motorsport
23
7
7
Ret
16
8
10
12
7
10
Ret
13
Ret
9
Ret
14
7
2
53
24
15
15
Ret
21
3
Ret
15
12
14
DSQ
Ret
13
19
12
20
Ret
6
10
Epsilon Euskadi
7
Ret
12
10
17
23†
18
19
Ret
Ret
9
Ret
Ret
18
10
9
4
9
32
8
14
Ret
6
7
20
17
25
17
6
Ret
16
11
10
20
16
9
15
11
Pons Racing
14
17
16
7
13
10
14
17
Ret
18
Ret
Ret
8
13
15
13
11
11
29
15
Ret
Ret
Ret
9
15
2
6
13
Ret
11
11
15
24
11
7
Ret
Ret
12
KTR
16
13
13
11
5
22
24†
23
16
20
10
NC
18
Ret
17
18
15
Ret
27
17
8
6
3
14
7
13
11
Ret
Ret
17
23
19
19
Ret
Ret
13
RC Motorsport
11
11
9
Ret
18
Ret
20
22
14
17
8
17
16
20
18
17
Ret
16
16
12
6
Ret
Ret
15
11
16
21
6
19
Ret
14
Ret
21
14
11
10
Ret
Pos
Team
Car No.
MNZSPR
MNZFEA
SPASPR
SPAFEA
MONFEA
SILSPR
SILFEA
HUNSPR
HUNFEA
NÜRSPR
NÜRFEA
LMSSPR
LMSFEA
ESTSPR
ESTFEA
CATSPR
CATFEA
Points
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
2nd place
Bronze
3rd place
Green
Points finish
Blue
Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Retired (Ret)
Red
Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black
Disqualified (DSQ)
White
Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank
Did not participate (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
References[edit]
^"New Formula Renault 3.5 in 2008". renault-sport.com. 2007-07-12. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
^"PREVIEW New WSR car revealed". italiaracing.net. 2007-09-21. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
^'08 World Series car hits track. Autosport Magazine, Vol. 190, No. 5, pp. 13, Haymarket Publications. 1 November 2007.
^"Twelve of the thirteen teams pre-selected". renault-sport.com. 2007-10-05. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
^"Ultimate Signature completes list of pre-selected teams". renault-sport.com. 2007-10-15. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
^"Qualifying changes get mixed reaction". autosport.com. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
^ a b"Tech 1 aiming to retain crown". autosport.com. 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
^"Draco roll with new signing". crash.net. 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
^"Baguette to join Barba at Draco". italiaracing.net. 2007-11-24. Archived from the original on 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
^ a b"Aleshin and Wickens stay with Carlin". autosport.com. 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
^"Epsilon signs Mario Romancini". italiaracing.net. 2008-01-28. Archived from the original on 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
^"Albuquerque returns to Epsilon". autosport.com. 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
^"Miguel Molina and Prema together in the 2008 World Series by Renault Championship". formula3.cc. 2008-02-05. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
^"Alvaro Barba and Prema together in the 2008 World Series by Renault Championship". formula3.cc. 2007-01-09. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
^"Aleix Alcaraz signs with RC Motorsport". italiaracing.net. 2008-02-14. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
^"Cantelli set to replace Alcaraz". autosport.com. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
^"RC Motorsport signs Borja Garcia". italiaracing.net. 2008-03-21. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
^"Duncan Tappy to drive for RC Motorsport". italiaracing.net. 2008-05-30. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
^"Agreement reached with Paolo Maria Nocera". rcmotorsport.it. 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2008-08-25.[dead link]
^ a b"Pons announces Cortes and Martinez". italiaracing.net. 2008-02-27. Archived from the original on 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
^"First signing for Comtec". crash.net. 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
^"Team title up for grabs in Barcelona". renault-sport.com. 2008-10-10. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
^"Carbone signs with Ultimate Signature". autosport.com. 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
^"Ultimate/Signature confirm Brazilian Claudio Cantelli". italiaracing.net. 2008-03-06. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
^"Seven World Series by Renault meetings scheduled for 2008". renault-sport.com. Renault Sport. 2007-01-09. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
External links[edit]
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