2008 Formula Renault 3.5 Series

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.

2008 Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Previous: 2007 Next: 2009
The Drivers' Championship was won by Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde.

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, 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]

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
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

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
  • 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 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 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
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd 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 participate (DNP)
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
 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 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.		 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
ColourResult
GoldWinner
Silver2nd place
Bronze3rd 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 participate (DNP)
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. "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. "Aleshin and Wickens stay with Carlin". autosport.com. 2007-12-20. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
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  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.
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  20. "Agreement reached with Paolo Maria Nocera". rcmotorsport.it. 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
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  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.
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  27. "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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