World Series by Renault a breeding ground for F1 drivers

17th December 2011

- Formula One - 2012
 
 
As revealed earlier this week, Scuderia Toro Rosso have named Daniel
Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne as their drivers for the 2012 season, the
first time two Formula Renault 3.5 Series rivals will be driving side by
side for the same Formula One team. In taking the step up from the Formula
Renault 3.5 Series to motor racing's blue riband class, the Australian and
the Frenchman are following the trail blazed by Robert Kubica, Sebastien
Vettel and Jaime Alguersuari. Their promotion takes the number of drivers in
the 2012 Formula One field who have earned their spurs in the World Series
by Renault's leading class to five, with world champion Vettel, Pastor
Maldonado and Charles Pic the other members of that esteemed quintet.
 
The driver development programme put in place by Renault Sport Technologies
continues to go from strength to strength, with the recent arrivals of
Charles Pic, Romain Grosjean, Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo in
Formula One cementing World Series by Renault's reputation as the
springboard for reaching motor racing's top table. All four made their
breakthroughs in Formula Renault 2.0, with Pic, Ricciardo and Vergne
graduating to Formula Renault 3.5 Series, and Grosjean catching the eye in
his Lotus Renault GP F1 demo drives for World Series by Renault, while also
helping to bring the New Formula Renault 3.5 development programme to a
successful conclusion.
 
The Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 3.5 single-seaters are both
designed to prepare drivers for the rigours of Formula One. Learning the
ropes in Formula Renault 2.0 national championships and then Eurocup Formula
Renault 2.0, budding young drivers also have the opportunity to shine in
Formula Renault 3.5 Series and earn a place on the big stage. Out of the 21
drivers with confirmed places on the Formula One grid in 2012, no fewer than
12 have earned their spurs in a Renault Sport Technologies car. Among them
is Felipe Massa, the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion in 2000, the same
year that Kimi Raikkonen caused a sensation by securing an F1 drive on the
strength of his Formula Renault 2.0 UK title win, a crown lifted three years
later by Lewis Hamilton. For his part, Kamui Kobayashi took the Eurocup
Formula Renault 2.0 crown in 2005, while Grosjean is himself a former winner
of the French Formula Renault 2.0 championship.
 
Pic, Ricciardo and Vergne have also performed with distinction at the wheel
of a Formula Renault 2.0, with Vergne taking the French title in 2008 and
the Australian topping the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC standings that same year.
Making the switch straight from Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 to Formula
Renault 3.5 Series, meanwhile, Pic secured a stunning first win in the class
on the streets of Monaco in 2008. Continuing their ascents, Ricciardo and
Vergne then enjoyed a season apiece in England, Ricciardo lifting the
British International F3 title in 2009 and Vergne succeeding him as champion
a year later. Their next destination was Formula Renault 3.5 Series. The
2010 runner-up, the Australian has successfully combined his Formula Renault
3.5 Series and Formula One duties with HRT this year, while Vergne, who
finished second in the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, earned his 2012
Formula One slot after impressing in testing.
 
The trio's promotion to Formula One is richly deserved and puts Renault
Sport Technologies' development programme firmly in the spotlight. A
selection of other drivers, among them Robert Wickens, are also in with a
chance of joining them next season, and their progress will be monitored
closely by all World Series by Renault stakeholders, who will continue with
their task of nurturing the champions of tomorrow. In lining up for the 2012
Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 3.5 Series championships, those
future stars will have no shortage of role models to emulate, with Pic,
Ricciardo and Vergne the latest to show that anything is possible with
enough hard work, dedication and the support of a programme tailored to
helping drivers reach the peak.

DD Classics - Daniel Donovan

16th May 2012

New web site for Landmark Car Company

8th May 2012

Auto Italia Magazine

30th April 2012

Abarth service and parts dealer

12th April 2012

All new web site for Kimi Räikkönen launched

15th March 2012

Barnside Motors - Garage in Cookham

9th March 2012