Nikon Europe has anounced a move into the dynamic world of European motor sport. Team Nikon will compete in the 2004 Formula Renault 2000 Europe Cup and Dutch Championship – a proven breeding ground for future F1 champions. The drivers are two of Holland’s rising stars, namely Paul Meijer and Yelmer Buurman. Team Nikon’s first European race will be in Valencia, Spain on the 18 April.
Nikon, who have a long association with many sports, are excited about the prospect of their first sponsorship relationship in motor sport. Nikon COOLPIX Product Manager Yenna Leenbeek-Zhang “ Precision timing, performance and technology are intrinsic to both our product range and motor sport. We are really confident that Paul, Yelmer and the team will compete strongly throughout Europe for Team Nikon and we are proud to be able to play a role in developing their careers as they strive to reach the ultimate goal of becoming Formula 1 drivers.”
Formula Renault 2000 is the latest generation of Formula Renault race cars. All the cars are designed and built to exactly the same technical specifications by Italian chassis manufacturer Tatuus. Starting from a common baseline, the winning driver will have to rely on his skills behind the wheel and on the ability of his team mechanics to make performance-enhancing adjustments to the car. This competitive race series has already unearthed one Formula 1 driver – Kimi Raikkonen (McLarenF1) who left Formula Renault 2000 and immediately joined Sauber F1.
Like many aspiring drivers Paul Meijer began his career in karting. At 16 years old he was the youngest driver to compete in the Toyota Yaris Cup, which he won. The 2003 season was his breakthrough year, winning the Benelux Championship by a massive 51-point margin and being voted ‘Rookie of the Year’. After 2 races, both at Monza in the Europe cup, Paul lies in 8th position on 12 points. Yelmer was 6th in the Dutch Formula Renault Championship in 2003, and he will be racing for Team Nikon in this championship as well as in the Europe Cup.
Race Calendar:
Dutch Championship
31 May Zandvoort8 August Zandvoort17 October Zandvoort
Europcup
18 April Valencia, Spain1 May Magny-Cours, France15 May Hockenheim, Germany29 May Brno, Czech Republic26 June Donington, England31 July Spa, Belgium4 Sep Imola, Italy18 Sep Oschersleben, Germany
The all-new Formula Renault 2000 also boasts a carbon monocoque (survival cell) made in the same factory and the same manufacturer (ATR) as the Ferrari monocoque; as a result the cars racing in Formula Renault 2000 contend for the title of being the most technically advanced junior single seater category below Formula 3000.
The engine used is the latest Renault 2 litre 16-valve F4R unit as found in the Clio RS mated to a sequential six speed racing gearbox. These units are sealed to prevent any modifications other than those set out in the Championship regulations.
Furthermore, all Formula Renault 2000 cars must use the nominated Elf lubricants, NGK spark plugs and Michelin Control tyres.
