2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season
Encyclopedia
The 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season will be the eighth season of the Renault
–supported single–seater
category.
It will be the first season for the new Dallara
T12 chassis, which features a new, 530 BHP V8 engine
supplied by British
firm Zytek Motorsport
. The car will also feature a new gearbox developed by Ricardo
and a Drag Reduction System
similar to the one first used in the 2011 Formula One season
. The series' organising committee has also announced that the series' sporting regulations are set to remain unchanged.
submitted entries, with only Mofaz Racing
not doing so, after failing to acquire requisite funds to continue in the series. As well as those teams, Arden International
, Atech
Reid GP
, DAMS
, Koiranen Motorsport, Max Travin Racing Team and Van Amersfoort Racing
all submitted entries to join the series. The final list of 13 teams was published on 17 October 2011. GP2 Series
teams Arden International and DAMS were selected, while EPIC Racing and Koiranen Motorsport were placed on a reserve list.
and Brazil
during the 2012 season. The 2012 calendar was announced on 10 October 2011, the day after the end of the 2011 season. Seven of the nine rounds will form meetings of the 2012 World Series by Renault season, with additional rounds in support of the and an event still to be confirmed.
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
–supported single–seater
Open wheel car
Open-wheel car, formula car, or often single-seater car in British English, describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and, in most cases, one seat. Open-wheel cars contrast with street cars, sports cars, stock cars, and touring cars, which have their wheels below the body or fenders...
category.
It will be the first season for the new Dallara
Dallara
Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993...
T12 chassis, which features a new, 530 BHP V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
supplied by British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
firm Zytek Motorsport
Zytek
Zytek Group Ltd is an automotive and motorsport company founded in 1981 and based in Fradley and Repton, United Kingdom. Zytek Group has two main division: Zytek Automotive, which is based at Fradley, Staffordshire; and Zytek Engineering, which is based at Repton, Derbyshire.-Zytek Automotive:Zytek...
. The car will also feature a new gearbox developed by Ricardo
Ricardo plc
Ricardo plc is a British publicly listed company named after its founder, Sir Harry Ricardo and founded on 30 June 1927 in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. The company is a leading global multi-industry engineering provider of technology, product innovation and strategic consulting...
and a Drag Reduction System
Drag Reduction System
Driver adjustable bodywork, commonly known as drag reduction system , is a motorsport technology aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag in order to promote overtaking in Formula One...
similar to the one first used in the 2011 Formula One season
2011 Formula One season
The 2011 Formula One season was the 62nd FIA Formula One season. The original calendar consisted of twenty rounds, including the inaugural running of the Indian Grand Prix before the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Pirelli returned to the sport as tyre supplier for all teams, taking over...
. The series' organising committee has also announced that the series' sporting regulations are set to remain unchanged.
Entry list
On 10 October 2011, it was announced that 18 teams had applied to compete in the 2012 season. Twelve of the thirteen teams that competed in 20112011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season
The 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season will be the seventh season of the Renault–supported single–seater category. It is due to be the final season for the current Dallara chassis with Renault Sport Technologies having confirmed a new car for the 2012 season.After featuring 12 teams during the...
submitted entries, with only Mofaz Racing
Mofaz Racing
Mofaz Racing are an auto racing team from Malaysia, currently competing in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series.-Background:The Mofaz Group is a Malaysian conglomerate, established in 1977, which operates in a wide range of business sectors, including services and hospitality, international and domestic...
not doing so, after failing to acquire requisite funds to continue in the series. As well as those teams, Arden International
Arden International
Arden International is an GP2 Series team, created by Christian Horner.Initially created to raise up Horner's career, and then reliant on sponsorship from Viktor Maslov, the team began to get good results and was the best team of Formula 3000 in its last years, showing new talents to motorsport...
, Atech
Atech Grand Prix
Atech Grand Prix is a British motor racing team.It was formed in 2007 as Hitech Junior Team by David Hayle, who had sold his successful British Formula Three team Hitech Racing to Austrian businessman Walter Grubmuller, Sr....
Reid GP
Reid Motorsport
Reid Motorsport is a British racing team operated by Anthony Reid, the former team truckie of Ultimate Motorsport. The team was founded in 2009 and it only ever competed in the now defunct Superleague Formula race series. It was created when Ultimate left the Superleague Formula series, with Reid...
, DAMS
DAMS
Driot-Arnoux Motorsport is a racing team from France, involved in many areas of motorsports. DAMS was founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot and former Formula One driver René Arnoux. It is headquartered near Le Mans, only 2 km from the Bugatti Circuit.- History :The year after its foundation,...
, Koiranen Motorsport, Max Travin Racing Team and Van Amersfoort Racing
Van Amersfoort Racing
Van Amersfoort Racing is an auto racing team based in The Netherlands....
all submitted entries to join the series. The final list of 13 teams was published on 17 October 2011. GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
teams Arden International and DAMS were selected, while EPIC Racing and Koiranen Motorsport were placed on a reserve list.
| Team | Driver | |
|---|---|---|
 Arden International Ltd.Arden International Arden International is an GP2 Series team, created by Christian Horner.Initially created to raise up Horner's career, and then reliant on sponsorship from Viktor Maslov, the team began to get good results and was the best team of Formula 3000 in its last years, showing new talents to motorsport... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
 BVM TargetTarget Racing Target Racing is an auto racing team based in Italy and is sometimes known as BVM - Target Racing.... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
| Carlin Carlin Motorsport Carlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:... |
TBA |  Kevin MagnussenKevin Magnussen Kevin Magnussen is a Danish racing driver. He is the son of former Formula One driver Jan Magnussen, and a member of McLaren's Young Driver Programme.-Career:... |
| TBA | TBA | |
| Comtec Racing Comtec Racing Comtec Racing is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in two championships — Formula Renault and World Series by Renault.-History:The team started out in Formula Ford before moving to Formula Renault UK... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
 DAMSDAMS Driot-Arnoux Motorsport is a racing team from France, involved in many areas of motorsports. DAMS was founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot and former Formula One driver René Arnoux. It is headquartered near Le Mans, only 2 km from the Bugatti Circuit.- History :The year after its foundation,... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
| Fortec Motorsport Fortec Motorsport Fortec Motorsport Ltd. is a motor-racing team that races in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, the British Formula Three Championship, and several junior formulae categories at a British and pan-European level... s |
TBA |  Carlos HuertasCarlos Huertas Carlos Huertas is a Colombian racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula BMW and the British Formula Three Championship.-External links:* *... |
| TBA | TBA | |
 GravityGenii Capital Genii Capital is an international financial advisory and investment firm, which specialises in brand management, promising technologies, motorsport and a wide spectrum of venture capitalism activities. It was created in 2008, by two Luxembourger investors, Gerard Lopez and Eric Lux and has a... –Charouz Charouz Racing System Charouz Racing System is a racing team from Czech Republic, created in 1985 by Antonín Charouz. Currently the team is competing in Auto GP and the Le Mans Series.- History :... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
| International Draco Racing Draco Racing Draco Racing is a motorsports team from Italy. It currently operates in the World Series by Renault, but has also taken part in Formula Opel Lotus, International Formula 3000 and Euro Formula 3000.-Formula Opel Lotus Euroseries:... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
| ISR ISR Racing ISR Racing is a racing team from Czech Republic, created in 1993 by Igor Salaquarda. The team is currently competing in International Formula Master and also in Sports car racing.- History :... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
 KMP RacingKMP Racing KMP Racing are an auto racing team who made their début in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2010.-KMP Group/SG Formula:KMP Group are a Russian–based tour operator and travel agency, set up in 1989, with offices in Moscow, St Petersberg, Kiev, Paris and New York.In May 2009, they linked up with... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
 P1 MotorsportP1 Motorsport P1 Motorsport is a British racing team based in Norfolk, England. They currently compete in the World Series by Renault.-British Formula Three:... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
 Pons RacingPons Racing Pons Racing is an motorcycle and auto racing team based in Spain. The team was founded by former 250cc world champion Sito Pons in 1992. In motorcycle road racing world championships, Pons has fielded riders such as Alex Barros, Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau... |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA | |
| Tech 1 Racing |
TBA | TBA |
| TBA | TBA |
Driver changes
Entering/Re–Entering FR3.5- British Formula Three2011 British Formula Three seasonThe 2011 Cooper Tires British Formula Three International Series is the 61st British Formula Three Championship season. The season began on 16 April at Monza in Italy and will end on 9 October at Silverstone after 30 races to be held at ten meetings...
runner-up Kevin MagnussenKevin MagnussenKevin Magnussen is a Danish racing driver. He is the son of former Formula One driver Jan Magnussen, and a member of McLaren's Young Driver Programme.-Career:...
will continue his collaboration with CarlinCarlin MotorsportCarlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:...
for another season, moving into the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. Carlos HuertasCarlos HuertasCarlos Huertas is a Colombian racing driver. He has competed in such series as Formula BMW and the British Formula Three Championship.-External links:* *...
, Magnussen's team-mate in Formula Three, will also move into the championship with Fortec MotorsportFortec MotorsportFortec Motorsport Ltd. is a motor-racing team that races in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, the British Formula Three Championship, and several junior formulae categories at a British and pan-European level...
s.
Race calendar
In August 2011, series organisers had announced that the championship was due to visit RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
during the 2012 season. The 2012 calendar was announced on 10 October 2011, the day after the end of the 2011 season. Seven of the nine rounds will form meetings of the 2012 World Series by Renault season, with additional rounds in support of the and an event still to be confirmed.
| Round | Circuit | Country | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R1 | Ciudad del Motor de Aragón Ciudad del Motor de Aragón The Ciudad del Motor de Aragón, also known as Motorland Aragón, is a race circuit located near Alcañiz, Spain.The circuit has been designed by well-known German architect Hermann Tilke in conjunction with the British architectural firm Foster + Partners... , Alcañiz Alcañiz Alcañiz is a town and municipality in the province of Teruel, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. The town is located on the banks of the river Guadalope. Alcañiz is the unofficial capital of the Lower Aragon historical region... |
5 May | |
| R2 | 6 May | |||
| 2 | R1 | Circuit de Monaco Circuit de Monaco Circuit de Monaco is a street circuit laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the principality of Monaco. It is commonly referred to as "Monte Carlo" because it is largely inside the Monte Carlo neighbourhood of Monaco.The circuit is used on one weekend in... , Monte Carlo Monte Carlo Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco.... |
26 May | |
| R2 | 27 May | |||
| 3 | R1 | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its... |
2 June | |
| R2 | 3 June | |||
| 4 | R1 | Nürburgring Nürburgring The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about... |
30 June | |
| R2 | 1 July | |||
| 5 | R1 | Moscow Raceway Moscow Raceway Moscow Raceway is designed as an FIA-approved motor racing venue, presently under construction in the Volokolamsky District of Moscow Oblast, near the villages of Sheludkovo and Fedyukovo, from Moscow, Russia... |
14 July | |
| R2 | 15 July | |||
| 6 | R1 | TBC | TBC | 25 August |
| R2 | 26 August | |||
| 7 | R1 | Hungaroring Hungaroring The Hungaroring is a racing circuit in Mogyoród, near Budapest, Hungary where the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix is held. In 1986, it became the location of the first Formula One Grand Prix behind the Iron Curtain. Bernie Ecclestone wanted a race in the USSR, but a Hungarian friend of his... , Mogyoród Mogyoród - Location :The town is 18 km from Budapest next to the M3 freeway in the valley of the Gödöllői-hills. Its highest point is the Somlyó-mountain, which can be seen from the freeway or the HÉV. Many people move here because of its proximity to Budapest while retaining the quiet of the country... |
15 September | |
| R2 | 16 September | |||
| 8 | R1 | Circuit Paul Ricard Circuit Paul Ricard The Paul Ricard Circuit is a motorsport race track built at Le Castellet, near Marseille, France, in 1969 with finance from the eccentric drinks magnate Paul Ricard, who created what essentially became Pernod Ricard... , Le Castellet Le Castellet, Var Le Castellet is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It is situated north-west of Toulon next to La Cadière-d'Azur and Le Beausset. It is surrounded by vineyards and is part of the Côtes de Provence Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée of... |
29 September | |
| R2 | 30 September | |||
| 9 | R1 | Circuit de Catalunya Circuit de Catalunya The Circuit de Catalunya is a racetrack in Montmeló, to the north of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit.-History:... , Montmeló Montmeló Montmeló is a municipality in the comarca of Vallès Oriental in Catalonia, Spain. It contains the Circuit de Catalunya, which is the home of the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix and the MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix.- Demography :-References:... |
20 October | |
| R2 | 21 October | |||