2008 Formula Renault 3.5 Series Explained

The 2008 Formula Renault 3.5 Series was the fourth Formula Renault 3.5 Series season. It began on 26 April in Monza, Italy and finished on 19 October in Barcelona, Spain after 17 races.

Regulation Changes

Technical

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 E85 bioethanol, which was a first for this level of motorsport in Europe. The Renault V6 engine, prepared by French company Solution F, also saw its power increased from to .

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]

Sporting

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

= Series rookie for 2008

Team		Driver name	Status	Rounds
Tech 1 Racing	1	Julien Jousse[7]		All
	2	Charles Pic		All
International DracoRacing	3	Bertrand Baguette[8]		All
	4	Marco Barba[9]		All
Carlin Motorsport	5	Mikhail Aleshin[10]		All
	6	Robert Wickens		All
Epsilon Euskadi	7	Mario Romancini[11]		1–7
		Filipe Albuquerque[12]		8–9
	8	Alexandre Marsoin[13]		All
Prema Powerteam	9	Miguel Molina[14]		All
	10	Álvaro Barba[15]		All
RC Motorsport	11	Aleix Alcaraz[16]		1–4
		Claudio Cantelli[17]		5–9
	12	Borja García[18]		1–3
		Duncan Tappy[19]		4–5, 8–9
		Paolo Maria Nocera[20]		6–7
Pons Racing	14	Máximo Cortés[21]		1–4
		Aleix Alcaraz[22]		5–9
	15	Marcos Martínez		All
KTR	16	Daniil Move[23]		1–5
		Siso Cunill[24]		6–9
	17	Guillaume Moreau[25]		1–5
		Sergey Afanasyev[26]		7–9
Interwetten.com Racing	19	Salvador Durán[27]		All
	20	Pablo Sánchez López		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]		9
Ultimate Signature	27	Fabio Carbone[36]		All
	28	Claudio Cantelli[37]		1–3
		Esteban Guerrieri[38]		4–9

Race calendar and results

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
1	R1	Autodromo Nazionale Monza	26 April		Marcos Martínez	Giedo van der Garde	P1 Motorsport
	R2		27 April				P1 Motorsport	Charles Pic
2	R1		3 May		Giedo van der Garde	Bertrand Baguette		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			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

• 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

Pos Driver MNZ SPR MNZ FEA SPA SPR SPA FEA MON FEA SIL SPR SIL FEA HUN SPR HUN FEA NÜR SPR NÜR FEA LMS SPR LMS FEA EST SPR EST FEA CAT SPR CAT FEA 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 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" 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 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" 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 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Alexandre Marsoin 14 Ret 6 7 20 17 25 17 6 Ret 16 11 10 20 16 9 15 17 20 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 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" 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 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Máximo Cortés 17 16 7 13 10 14 17 5 27 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Aleix Alcaraz 11 9 Ret 18 Ret 20 22 Ret 18 Ret Ret 8 13 15 13 11 11 5 28 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Claudio Cantelli 16 Ret 12 19 17 14 17 8 17 16 20 18 17 Ret 16 3 29 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Mario Romancini Ret 12 10 17 23† 18 19 Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 18 3 30 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Siso Cunill 10 NC 18 Ret 17 18 15 Ret 1 31 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Sten Pentus 14 17 0 32 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Paolo Maria Nocera Ret 14 Ret 21 0 33 Julian Theobald 15 15 Ret 21 0 34 align=left style="background:#8FCFDF;" Sergey Afanasyev 17 23 19 19 Ret Ret 0 Pos Driver MNZ SPR MNZ FEA SPA SPR SPA FEA MON FEA SIL SPR SIL FEA HUN SPR HUN FEA NÜR SPR NÜR FEA LMS SPR LMS FEA EST SPR EST FEA CAT SPR CAT FEA Points

• 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

Pos Team Car No. MNZ SPR MNZ FEA SPA SPR SPA FEA MON FEA SIL SPR SIL FEA HUN SPR HUN FEA NÜR SPR NÜR FEA LMS SPR LMS FEA EST SPR EST FEA CAT SPR CAT FEA 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 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. MNZ SPR MNZ FEA SPA SPR SPA FEA MON FEA SIL SPR SIL FEA HUN SPR HUN FEA NÜR SPR NÜR FEA LMS SPR LMS FEA EST SPR EST FEA CAT SPR CAT FEA Points

Notes and References

1. News: New Formula Renault 3.5 in 2008 . renault-sport.com . 2007-07-12 . 2007-11-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20070928085758/http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/formulaV6/news.php?news=55275.html . 28 September 2007. dead.
2. News: PREVIEW New WSR car revealed . italiaracing.net . 2007-09-21 . 2007-10-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071213130622/http://www.italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=16434&cat=5 . 2007-12-13 .
3. '08 World Series car hits track. Autosport Magazine, Vol. 190, No. 5, pp. 13, Haymarket Publications. 1 November 2007.
4. News: Twelve of the thirteen teams pre-selected . renault-sport.com . 2007-10-05 . 2007-10-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20071014113942/http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/formulaV6/news.php?news=63806.html . 14 October 2007. dead.
5. News: Ultimate Signature completes list of pre-selected teams . renault-sport.com . 2007-10-15 . 2007-10-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20071020233039/http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/formulaV6/news.php?news=64030.html . 20 October 2007. dead.
6. News: Qualifying changes get mixed reaction . autosport.com . 2007-11-07 . 2007-11-08.
7. News: English . Steven . 2008-02-06 . Tech 1 aiming to retain crown . https://web.archive.org/web/20080215090721/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65006 . 2008-02-15 . 2008-02-06 . autosport.com.
8. News: 2007-11-24 . Draco roll with new signing . https://web.archive.org/web/20080724122938/http://www.crash.net/motorsport/renault/news/157532-0/draco_roll_with_new_signing.html . 2008-07-24 . 2007-11-25 . crash.net.
9. News: Baguette to join Barba at Draco . italiaracing.net . 2007-11-24 . 2007-11-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071222065757/http://www.italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=17262&cat=5 . 2007-12-22 .
10. News: Freeman . Glenn . 2007-12-20 . Aleshin and Wickens stay with Carlin . 2007-12-20 . autosport.com.
11. News: Epsilon signs Mario Romancini . italiaracing.net . 2008-01-28 . 2008-01-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090911012253/http://www.italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=17816&cat=5 . 2009-09-11 .
12. News: Mills . Peter . 2008-09-22 . Albuquerque returns to Epsilon . https://web.archive.org/web/20080926085602/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70779 . 2008-09-26 . 2008-09-22 . autosport.com.
13. News: Mills . Peter . 2008-02-19 . Epsilon sign Frenchman Marsoin . 2008-02-19 . autosport.com.
14. News: Miguel Molina and Prema together in the 2008 World Series by Renault Championship . formula3.cc . 2008-02-05 . 2008-02-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706215643/http://www.formula3.cc/content/view/22575/1/ . 2011-07-06 .
15. News: Alvaro Barba and Prema together in the 2008 World Series by Renault Championship . formula3.cc . 2007-01-09 . 2007-01-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706215624/http://www.formula3.cc/content/view/22163/1/ . 2011-07-06 .
16. News: Aleix Alcaraz signs with RC Motorsport . italiaracing.net . 2008-02-14 . 2008-02-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100615123756/http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=18002&cat=5 . 2010-06-15 .
17. News: Mills . Peter . 2008-07-01 . Cantelli set to replace Alcaraz . 2008-07-01 . autosport.com.
18. News: RC Motorsport signs Borja Garcia . italiaracing.net . 2008-03-21 . 2008-03-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100615122704/http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=18424&cat=5 . 2010-06-15 .
19. News: Duncan Tappy to drive for RC Motorsport . italiaracing.net . 2008-05-30 . 2008-05-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100615084044/http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=19311&cat=5 . 2010-06-15 .
20. News: 2008-08-25 . Agreement reached with Paolo Maria Nocera . 2008-08-25 . rcmotorsport.it.
21. News: Pons announces Cortes and Martinez . italiaracing.net . 2008-02-27 . 2008-02-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080305002915/http://www.italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=18151&cat=5 . 2008-03-05 .
22. News: 2008-07-03 . Alcaraz joins Pons . https://web.archive.org/web/20110524002919/http://www.crash.net/renault+ws/news/96580/1/alcaraz_joins_pons.html . 2011-05-24 . 2008-07-04 . crash.net.
23. News: Daniil Move signs with KTR . italiaracing.net . 2008-02-06 . 2008-02-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100615123100/http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=17923&cat=5 . 2010-06-15 .
24. News: Mills . Peter . 2008-08-21 . Cunill fills first empty KTR seat . https://web.archive.org/web/20081007175116/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69911 . 2008-10-07 . 2008-08-21 . autosport.com.
25. News: Freeman . Glenn . 2007-12-17 . Moreau to stay with KTR for 2008 . 2007-12-17 . autosport.com.
26. News: Sergey Afanasiev to race for KTR . italiaracing.net . 2008-09-02 . 2008-09-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100615130200/http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=20436&cat=5 . 2010-06-15 .
27. News: Telmex announces Sanchez for Interwetten's ride . italiaracing.net . 2008-02-07 . 2008-02-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080214033801/http://www.italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=17935&cat=5 . 2008-02-14 .
28. News: Freeman . Glenn . 2008-01-02 . Van der Garde switches to P1 for '08 . 2008-01-02 . autosport.com.
29. News: Pippa Mann resigns with P1 Motorsport . italiaracing.net . 2008-01-07 . 2008-01-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080108150333/http://www.italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=17611&cat=5 . 2008-01-08 .
30. News: English . Steven . 2008-02-12 . Walker stays on with Fortec Motorsport . https://web.archive.org/web/20080215022115/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65092 . 2008-02-15 . 2008-02-12 . autosport.com.
31. News: Fortec signs Julian Theobald . italiaracing.net . 2008-04-23 . 2008-04-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100615123509/http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=18842&cat=5 . 2010-06-15 .
32. News: English . Steven . 2008-05-20 . Fauzy secures Fortec drive . 2008-05-20 . autosport.com.
33. News: English . Steven . 2008-02-11 . Bonanomi completes Comtec line-up . https://web.archive.org/web/20080214084156/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65089 . 2008-02-14 . 2008-02-11 . autosport.com.
34. News: 2008-01-27 . First signing for Comtec . https://web.archive.org/web/20081015210450/http://www.crash.net/motorsport/renault/news/159052-0/first_signing_for_comtec.html . 2008-10-15 . 2008-01-27 . crash.net.
35. News: Team title up for grabs in Barcelona . renault-sport.com . 2008-10-10 . 2008-10-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20081017104920/http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/formulaV6/news.php?news=82191.html . 17 October 2008. dead.
36. News: Noble . Jonathan . 2008-03-05 . Carbone signs with Ultimate Signature . https://web.archive.org/web/20080410001517/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65488 . 2008-04-10 . 2008-03-05 . autosport.com.
37. News: Ultimate/Signature confirm Brazilian Claudio Cantelli . italiaracing.net . 2008-03-06 . 2008-03-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100615121943/http://italiaracing.net/notizia.asp?id=18227&cat=5 . 2010-06-15 .
38. News: 2008-06-04 . Guerrieri graduates . https://web.archive.org/web/20110524001939/http://www.crash.net/renault+ws/news/96531/1/guerrieri_graduates.html . 2011-05-24 . 2008-06-04 . crash.net.
39. News: Seven World Series by Renault meetings scheduled for 2008 . renault-sport.com . . 2007-01-09 . 2007-01-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20081122232534/http://www.renault-sport.com/en/world_series/formulaV6/news.php?news=71480.html . 22 November 2008. dead.