MP Motorsport are considering a return to the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Series in 2017, and Arden Motorsport could join them!
MP departed the championship at the end of the 2015 season to concentrate on their GP2 Series campaign but are interested in a return in 2017, especially with Renault strengthening their link with the category and the calendar being extended to ten rounds, while the top two in the championship will be introduced to the Renault Sport Academy.
Sander Dorsman, the team manager of MP Motorsport, has expressed the teams ambition for a series return, and believes the championship is just what drivers need as they work through the junior categories on their way though the motorsport ranks.
“We take part in various categories and, first of all, we wanted to focus on those,” said Dorsman on the reasons why they left Eurocup in the first place.
“Secondly, we thought that the current format of Eurocup needed to change, it needed some adjustments to become more relevant to drivers in comparison with F4 or F3. We are considering rejoining Eurocup, we haven’t decided yet.
“The whole link with Renault F1 and the Academy makes it much more attractive to drivers and the plans which they officially presented last week, like that the winner of Eurocup will be part of Renault Academy and that can guarantee him a budget for GP3 but also for the upcoming three years, so that can really help the driver move up the single-seater ladder.
“Also the calendar of 10 rounds, including F1 circuits like Monaco, I think that’s much better, it will be a more mature championship with 10 rounds and a bigger version of the Eurocup and I think that’s what a driver needs.”
Arden Motorsport general manager Julian Rouse also admits his team are looking to embark in racing in the category, and cited the changes Renault have been making as the reasons why they look to add Eurocup to the multiple championships Arden already compete in.
“It is obviously a change in format that Renault is introducing and that makes the championship all the more interesting and exciting that it is for the moment for sure,” said Rouse.
“We are looking at the possibility of doing it [Eurocup], we are just exploring the championship and what it has to offer and we are to make a decision on whether to go ahead very shortly.”
“If we do decide to embark on FR2.0 then it gives us more opportunity to move drivers through the categories, it’s attractive from that point of view as well.”
