2014 FR3.5 Series Season Preview – Part 1 – History of FR3.5

The tenth season of the Formula Renault 3.5 series takes place in 2014, after Renault took over the World Series by Nissan series in 2005.  FR3.5, or World Series by Renault (WSR) has become one of the best feeder series for Formula 1 in recent years, rivalling the GP2 series.

Formula Renault 3.5 has support races from the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and the Eurocup Megane Trophy series’, and race over nine rounds consisting of two races, apart from Monaco when they race only once.  Last year’s Formula Renault champion Kevin Magnussen progressed to Formula 1 with the McLaren team, while 2012 champion Robin Frijns is the Caterham F1 teams reserve driver for 2014.

Here we take a look back at the past champions of the Formula Renault 3.5 series, plus a quick look at the inaugural race weekend back in 2005 with World Series by Nissan turned into World Series by Renault.

Past Driver and Team Champions

First Race Weekend – May 01^st-02^nd 2005 – Zolder

The first Formula Renault 3.5 weekend took place over the weekend of May 01^st-02^nd 2005 at the Zolder circuit in Belgium.  There were fifteen teams of two drivers, of which three remain to this date (Carlin, Pons Racing and DAMS), though a fourth – Draco Multiracing USA – have morphed into International Draco Racing.

There were four future Formula 1 drivers in that first race in the form of Pastor Maldonado, Robert Kubica, Markus Winkelhock and Karun Chandhok, while IndyCar front-runners Will Power and Simon Pagenaud also competed that weekend.

May 01^st – Race One Qualifying Results – Top Six

May 01^st – Race One Race Results – Top Six

Fastest Lap: Markus Winkelhock – Germany – Draco Racing

May 02^nd – Race Two Qualifying Results – Top Six

May 02^nd – Race Two Race Results – Top Six

Fastest Lap: Robert Kubica – Poland – Epsilon Euskadi