The Drivers' Championship was won by Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde.

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 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]

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

R = Series rookie for 2008

Team No. Driver name Status Rounds
France Tech 1 Racing 1 France Julien Jousse[7] All
2 France Charles Pic[7] R All
Italy International DracoRacing 3 Belgium Bertrand Baguette[8] All
4 Spain Marco Barba[9] All
United Kingdom Carlin Motorsport 5 Russia Mikhail Aleshin[10] All
6 Canada Robert Wickens[10] All
Spain Epsilon Euskadi 7 Brazil Mario Romancini[11] R 1–7
Portugal Filipe Albuquerque[12] 8–9
8 France Alexandre Marsoin[13] R All
Italy Prema Powerteam 9 Spain Miguel Molina[14] All
10 Spain Álvaro Barba[15] All
Italy RC Motorsport 11 Spain Aleix Alcaraz[16] R 1–4
Brazil Claudio Cantelli[17] R 5–9
12 Spain Borja García[18] 1–3
United Kingdom Duncan Tappy[19] R 4–5, 8–9
Italy Paolo Maria Nocera[20] R 6–7
Spain Pons Racing 14 Spain Máximo Cortés[21] R 1–4
Spain Aleix Alcaraz[22] R 5–9
15 Spain Marcos Martínez[21] All
Belgium KTR 16 Russia Daniil Move[23] 1–5
Spain Siso Cunill[24] R 6–9
17 France Guillaume Moreau[25] 1–5
Russia Sergey Afanasyev[26] R 7–9
Austria Interwetten.com Racing 19 Mexico Salvador Durán[27] All
20 Mexico Pablo Sánchez López[27] R All
United Kingdom P1 Motorsport 21 Netherlands Giedo van der Garde[28] All
22 United Kingdom Pippa Mann[29] All
United Kingdom Fortec Motorsport 23 United Kingdom James Walker[30] All
24 Germany Julian Theobald[31] 1–2
Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy[32] 3–9
United Kingdom Red Devil Comtec Racing 25 Italy Marco Bonanomi[33] All
26 Italy Pasquale Di Sabatino[34] 1–7
Estonia Sten Pentus[35] R 9
France Ultimate Signature 27 Brazil Fabio Carbone[36] All
28 Brazil Claudio Cantelli[37] R 1–3
Argentina 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 Rookie Winner
1 R1 Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza 26 April Spain Marcos Martínez Netherlands Giedo van der Garde United Kingdom P1 Motorsport Mexico Pablo Sánchez López
R2 27 April Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Netherlands Giedo van der Garde United Kingdom P1 Motorsport France Charles Pic
2 R1 Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 3 May Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Belgium Bertrand Baguette Italy International DracoRacing France Alexandre Marsoin
R2 4 May Italy Marco Bonanomi Netherlands Giedo van der Garde Netherlands Giedo van der Garde United Kingdom P1 Motorsport France Alexandre Marsoin
3 R1 Monaco Circuit de Monaco 25 May France Charles Pic France Charles Pic France Charles Pic France Tech 1 Racing France Charles Pic
4 R1 United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit 7 June Mexico Salvador Durán Mexico Salvador Durán Austria Interwetten.com Racing Spain Máximo Cortés
R2 8 June Canada Robert Wickens Mexico Salvador Durán Canada Robert Wickens United Kingdom Carlin Motorsport France Charles Pic
5 R1 Hungary Hungaroring 5 July France Julien Jousse Netherlands Giedo van der Garde United Kingdom P1 Motorsport United Kingdom Duncan Tappy
R2 6 July Brazil Fabio Carbone Brazil Fabio Carbone Brazil Fabio Carbone France Ultimate Signature France Alexandre Marsoin
6 R1 Germany Nürburgring 30 August Brazil Fabio Carbone Brazil Fabio Carbone France Ultimate Signature Mexico Pablo Sánchez López
R2 31 August Netherlands Giedo van der Garde France Julien Jousse Spain Miguel Molina Italy Prema Powerteam Mexico Pablo Sánchez López
7 R1 France Bugatti Circuit 6 September Canada Robert Wickens France Charles Pic France Tech 1 Racing France Charles Pic
R2 7 September Argentina Esteban Guerrieri Canada Robert Wickens Netherlands Giedo van der Garde United Kingdom P1 Motorsport France Charles Pic
8 R1 Portugal Autódromo do Estoril 27 September Spain Álvaro Barba Brazil Fabio Carbone France Ultimate Signature Mexico Pablo Sánchez López
R2 28 September Spain Miguel Molina France Charles Pic Spain Miguel Molina Italy Prema Powerteam France Charles Pic
9 R1 Spain Circuit de Catalunya 18 October Canada Robert Wickens France Julien Jousse France Tech 1 Racing France Charles Pic
R2 19 October Argentina Esteban Guerrieri Mexico Salvador Durán Argentina Esteban Guerrieri France Ultimate Signature France 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

Italy
MNZ
FEA

Italy
SPA
SPR

Belgium
SPA
FEA

Belgium
MON
FEA

Monaco
SIL
SPR

United Kingdom
SIL
FEA

United Kingdom
HUN
SPR

Hungary
HUN
FEA

Hungary
NÜR
SPR

Germany
NÜR
FEA

Germany
LMS
SPR

France
LMS
FEA

France
EST
SPR

Portugal
EST
FEA

Portugal
CAT
SPR

Spain
CAT
FEA

Spain
Points
1 Netherlands Giedo van der Garde 1 1 Ret 1 2 5 2 1 21† 2 7 DNS 1 8 8 DNS Ret 137
2 France Julien Jousse 3 4 Ret Ret 4 7 10 2 2 Ret 2 9 15 4 3 1 5 106
3 Brazil Fabio Carbone DSQ Ret 15 Ret 12 4 5 3 1 1 6 3 2 1 Ret 5 10 97
4 Spain Miguel Molina Ret Ret 9 6 9 23 Ret Ret 3 Ret 1 2 5 7 1 Ret 7 79
5 Russia Mikhail Aleshin 5 5 5 3 6 Ret 18 9 15 3 DNS 6 4 9 23† 2 14 73
6 France Charles Pic 9 3 Ret 12 1 15 13 18 9 Ret 12 1 6 Ret 2 8 8 69
7 Belgium Bertrand Baguette Ret Ret 1 11 5 6 16 4 4 5 5 Ret 16 Ret 4 Ret 4 69
8 Argentina Esteban Guerrieri 22 4 Ret 12 12 9 4 3 5 6 Ret 1 62
9 Mexico Salvador Durán Ret 14 2 4 16 1 3 Ret 16 4 DSQ 7 7 16 22† Ret 12 61
10 Spain Álvaro Barba Ret 2 DNS 10 14 3 8 Ret 5 Ret 3 NC 12 2 Ret 6 Ret 58
11 Italy Marco Bonanomi Ret DSQ 4 2 13 8 9 5 13 Ret 4 5 11 Ret 5 Ret DNS 56
12 Canada Robert Wickens Ret Ret 14 Ret 19 9 1 Ret 8 13 18 14 22 3 12 3 3 55
13 United Kingdom James Walker 7 7 Ret 16 8 10 12 7 10 Ret 13 Ret 9 Ret 14 7 2 36
14 Spain Marco Barba 12 8 Ret 20 24† 12 7 10 7 Ret 10 10 8 6 10 16† Ret 24
15 Spain Marcos Martínez Ret Ret Ret 9 15 2 6 13 Ret 11 11 15 24 11 7 Ret Ret 21
16 France Guillaume Moreau 8 6 3 14 7 13 11 Ret Ret 20
17 Mexico Pablo Sánchez López 4 Ret 8 Ret 21 21 24 8 Ret 6 8 Ret 17 13 21 12 Ret 18
18 Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy 3 Ret 15 12 14 DSQ Ret 13 19 12 20 Ret 6 17
19 France Alexandre Marsoin 14 Ret 6 7 20 17 25 17 6 Ret 16 11 10 20 16 9 15 17
20 Italy Pasquale Di Sabatino 2 10 13 8 25† 11 14 11 11 Ret 15 12 14 16
21 Portugal Filipe Albuquerque 10 9 4 9 12
22 Russia Daniil Move 13 13 11 5 22 24† 23 16 20 6
23 United Kingdom Duncan Tappy 16 21 6 19 14 11 10 Ret 6
24 Spain Borja García 6 Ret Ret 15 11 5
25 United Kingdom Pippa Mann 10 11 16 Ret 18 19 20 15 Ret 7 19 Ret Ret Ret 15 13 13 5
26 Spain Máximo Cortés 17 16 7 13 10 14 17 5
27 Spain Aleix Alcaraz 11 9 Ret 18 Ret 20 22 Ret 18 Ret Ret 8 13 15 13 11 11 5
28 Brazil Claudio Cantelli 16 Ret 12 19 17 14 17 8 17 16 20 18 17 Ret 16 3
29 Brazil Mario Romancini Ret 12 10 17 23† 18 19 Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 18 3
30 Spain Siso Cunill 10 NC 18 Ret 17 18 15 Ret 1
31 Estonia Sten Pentus 14 17 0
32 Italy Paolo Maria Nocera Ret 14 Ret 21 0
33 Germany Julian Theobald 15 15 Ret 21 0
34 Russia Sergey Afanasyev 17 23 19 19 Ret Ret 0
Pos Driver MNZ
SPR

Italy
MNZ
FEA

Italy
SPA
SPR

Belgium
SPA
FEA

Belgium
MON
FEA

Monaco
SIL
SPR

United Kingdom
SIL
FEA

United Kingdom
HUN
SPR

Hungary
HUN
FEA

Hungary
NÜR
SPR

Germany
NÜR
FEA

Germany
LMS
SPR

France
LMS
FEA

France
EST
SPR

Portugal
EST
FEA

Portugal
CAT
SPR

Spain
CAT
FEA

Spain
Points
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (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

Pos Team Car
No.
MNZ
SPR

Italy
MNZ
FEA

Italy
SPA
SPR

Belgium
SPA
FEA

Belgium
MON
FEA

Monaco
SIL
SPR

United Kingdom
SIL
FEA

United Kingdom
HUN
SPR

Hungary
HUN
FEA

Hungary
NÜR
SPR

Germany
NÜR
FEA

Germany
LMS
SPR

France
LMS
FEA

France
EST
SPR

Portugal
EST
FEA

Portugal
CAT
SPR

Spain
CAT
FEA

Spain
Points
1 France 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 France 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 United Kingdom 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 Italy 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 United Kingdom 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 Italy 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 Austria 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom 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 Spain 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 Spain 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 Belgium 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 Italy 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

Italy
MNZ
FEA

Italy
SPA
SPR

Belgium
SPA
FEA

Belgium
MON
FEA

Monaco
SIL
SPR

United Kingdom
SIL
FEA

United Kingdom
HUN
SPR

Hungary
HUN
FEA

Hungary
NÜR
SPR

Germany
NÜR
FEA

Germany
LMS
SPR

France
LMS
FEA

France
EST
SPR

Portugal
EST
FEA

Portugal
CAT
SPR

Spain
CAT
FEA

Spain
Points
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

References

  1. "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.
  2. "PREVIEW New WSR car revealed". italiaracing.net. 2007-09-21. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  3. '08 World Series car hits track. Autosport Magazine, Vol. 190, No. 5, pp. 13, Haymarket Publications. 1 November 2007.
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. "Qualifying changes get mixed reaction". autosport.com. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  7. 1 2 "Tech 1 aiming to retain crown". autosport.com. 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  8. "Draco roll with new signing". crash.net. 2007-11-24. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  9. "Baguette to join Barba at Draco". italiaracing.net. 2007-11-24. Archived from the original on 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  10. 1 2 "Aleshin and Wickens stay with Carlin". autosport.com. 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  11. "Epsilon signs Mario Romancini". italiaracing.net. 2008-01-28. Archived from the original on 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  12. "Albuquerque returns to Epsilon". autosport.com. 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  13. "Epsilon sign Frenchman Marsoin". autosport.com. 2008-02-19. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
  14. "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.
  15. "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.
  16. "Aleix Alcaraz signs with RC Motorsport". italiaracing.net. 2008-02-14. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  17. "Cantelli set to replace Alcaraz". autosport.com. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  18. "RC Motorsport signs Borja Garcia". italiaracing.net. 2008-03-21. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-03-23.
  19. "Duncan Tappy to drive for RC Motorsport". italiaracing.net. 2008-05-30. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  20. "Agreement reached with Paolo Maria Nocera". rcmotorsport.it. 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  21. 1 2 "Pons announces Cortes and Martinez". italiaracing.net. 2008-02-27. Archived from the original on 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  22. "Alcaraz joins Pons". crash.net. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
  23. "Daniil Move signs with KTR". italiaracing.net. 2008-02-06. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  24. "Cunill fills first empty KTR seat". autosport.com. 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  25. "Moreau to stay with KTR for 2008". autosport.com. 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
  26. "Sergey Afanasiev to race for KTR". italiaracing.net. 2008-09-02. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  27. 1 2 "Telmex announces Sanchez for Interwetten's ride". italiaracing.net. 2008-02-07. Archived from the original on 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  28. "Van der Garde switches to P1 for '08". autosport.com. 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  29. "Pippa Mann resigns with P1 Motorsport". italiaracing.net. 2008-01-07. Archived from the original on 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  30. "Walker stays on with Fortec Motorsport". autosport.com. 2008-02-12. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  31. "Fortec signs Julian Theobald". italiaracing.net. 2008-04-23. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  32. "Fauzy secures Fortec drive". autosport.com. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  33. "Bonanomi completes Comtec line-up". autosport.com. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
  34. "First signing for Comtec". crash.net. 2008-01-27. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  35. "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.
  36. "Carbone signs with Ultimate Signature". autosport.com. 2008-03-05. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  37. "Ultimate/Signature confirm Brazilian Claudio Cantelli". italiaracing.net. 2008-03-06. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  38. "Guerrieri graduates". crash.net. 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  39. "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.
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