Formula Renault 3.5 season 2012

The 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 season was the 15th season of the main series of the World Series by Renault , which was held for the 8th time as Formula Renault 3.5 . It started on May 5th in Alcañiz and ended on October 21st in Barcelona .

Rule changes

technical changes

The previous Dallara chassis has been replaced by the new Dallara T12 chassis . A 530 hp (400 kW) 3.5-liter V8 engine from the British manufacturer Zytek was introduced as the new engine . The vehicle received a new transmission from Ricardo and had a Drag Reduction System (DRS), which was introduced in motorsport in the 2011 Formula 1 season . With a weight of 610 kg, the new car is 15 kg lighter than its predecessor and the engine is 50 hp more powerful.

The development test drives were carried out by Romain Grosjean , Ben Hanley and Andy Souček .

Teams and drivers

All teams used the Dallara T12 chassis , Zytek engines and Michelin tires .

team	Automobile #	driver	Race weekend
Carlin	01	Kevin Magnussen	1-9
	02	Will Stevens	1-9
Fortec Motorsport	03	Carlos Huertas	1-9
	04th	Robin Frijns	1-9
ISR	05	Sam Bird	1-9
	06th	Jake Rosenzweig	1-9
Tech 1 racing	07th	Kevin Korjus	1-6
		Daniel Dept.	7-9
	08th	Jules Bianchi	1-9
P1 motorsport	09	Walter Grubmüller	1-9
	10	Daniil Mowe	1-9
lotus	11	Richie Stanaway	1-3
		César Ramos	4, 5
		Nigel Melker	6th
		Kevin Korjus	7-9
	12	Marco Sørensen	1-9
BVM target	15th	Giovanni Venturini	1-4
		Sergei Sirotkin	5
		Daniel Zampieri	6th
		Tamás Pál Kiss	7, 9
		Davide Rigon	8th
	16	Nikolai Marzenko	1-9
Team RFR	17th	Mikhail Alyoshin	1-9
	18th	Anton Nebylitsky	1-6
		Aaro Vainio	7-9
Pons Racing	19th	Yann Cunha	1-9
	20th	Zoël Amberg	1-9
International Draco Racing	21st	Nico Müller	1-9
	22nd	André Negrao	1-9
Comtec Racing	23	Vittorio Ghirelli	1-9
	24	Nick Yelloly	1-9
Arden  Caterham	25th	Alexander Rossi	1-9
	26th	Lewis Williamson	1-3
		António Félix da Costa	4-9
DAMS	27	Lucas Foresti	1-9
	28	Arthur Pic	1-9

Changes in the drivers

The following list contains all drivers who took part in the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 season and who did not start for the same team in the 2012 season as in 2011.

Drivers who have changed their team:

• Arthur Pic : Tech 1 Racing → DAMS
• César Ramos : Fortec Motorsport → Lotus
• Jake Rosenzweig : Mofaz Racing → ISR
• Alexander Rossi : Fortec Motorsport → Arden Caterham
• Lewis Williamson : ISR → Arden Caterham
• Nick Yelloly : Pons Racing → Comtec Racing

Drivers who entered or returned to Formula Renault 3.5:

• Daniel Abt : Formula 3 Euro Series ( Signature ) → Tech 1 Racing
• Zoël Amberg : GP3 series ( Atech CRS Grand Prix ) → Pons Racing
• Jules Bianchi : GP2 series ( Lotus ART ) → Tech 1 Racing
• Sam Bird : GP2 series ( iSport International ) → ISR
• Yann Cunha : British Formula 3 Championship ( T-Sport ) → Pons Racing
• António Félix da Costa : GP3 series ( Status Grand Prix ) → Arden Caterham
• Lucas Foresti : British Formula 3 Championship (Fortec Motorsport) → DAMS
• Robin Frijns : Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup ( Josef Kaufmann Racing ) → Fortec Motorsport
• Vittorio Ghirelli : GP3 series ( Addax Team ) → Comtec Racing
• Carlos Huertas : British Formula 3 Championship ( Carlin ) → Fortec Motorsport
• Kevin Magnussen : British Formula 3 Championship (Carlin) → Carlin
• Nikolai Marzenko : German Formula 3 Cup ( Max Travin Racing Team ) → BVM Target
• Nigel Melker : GP3 series ( RSC Mücke Motorsport ) → Lotus
• Nico Müller : GP3 series ( Jenzer Motorsport ) → International Draco Racing
• Tamás Pál Kiss : GP3 series (Tech 1 Racing) → BVM Target
• Davide Rigon : GP2 series ( Scuderia Coloni ) → BVM Target
• Sergei Sirotkin : Formula Abarth ( Euronova Racing by Fortec) → BVM Target
• Marco Sørensen : German Formula 3 Cup ( Brandl Motorsport ) → Lotus
• Richie Stanaway : German Formula 3 Cup ( Van Amersfoort Racing ) → Lotus
• Will Stevens : Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup (Fortec Motorsport) → Carlin
• Aaro Vainio : GP3 series (Tech 1 Racing) → Team RFR
• Giovanni Venturini : Auto GP ( Griffitz Durango ) → BVM Target

Drivers who have left Formula Renault 3.5:

• Nathanaël Berthon : ISR → GP2 series ( Racing Engineering )
• Sergio Canamasas : BVM Target → GP2 Series ( Venezuela GP Lazarus )
• Jan Charouz : Gravity - Charouz → WEC ( ADR - Delta )
• Albert Costa : EPIC Racing → Eurocup Mégane Trophy ( Oregon Team )
• Chris van der Drift : Mofaz Racing → Auto GP ( MP Motorsport )
• Brendon Hartley : Gravity - Charouz → GP2 series ( Ocean Racing Technology )
• Daniël de Jong : Comtec Racing → Auto GP (MP Motorsport)
• Daniel McKenzie : Comtec Racing → FIA Formula 2 Championship
• Nelson Panciatici : KMP Racing → WEC (Signatech Nissan)
• Sten Pentus : EPIC Racing → Auto GP ( Virtuosi Racing UK )
• Daniel Ricciardo : ISR → Formula 1 ( Scuderia Toro Rosso )
• Stéphane Richelmi : International Draco Racing → GP2 series ( Trident Racing )
• Filip Salaquarda : Pons Racing → FIA GT1 World Championship ( AF Corse )
• Adrien Tambay : International Draco Racing → DTM ( Abt Sportsline )
• Jean-Éric Vergne : Carlin → Formula 1 (Scuderia Toro Rosso)
• Jean Karl Vernay : Pons Racing → WEC ( Luxury Racing )
• Oliver Webb : Pons Racing → Indy Lights ( Sam Schmidt Motorsports )
• Robert Wickens : Carlin → DTM (Mücke Motorsport)

Drivers who do not yet have a contract for a racing cockpit 2012:

• Adam Carroll
• Fairuz Fauzy
• Michael Herck
• Marcos Martínez
• Dominic Storey

Changes in the teams

18 teams applied for a starting place for the 2012 season. In addition to 12 teams ( BVM Target , Carlin , Comtec Racing , EPIC Racing , Fortec Motorsport , Gravity - Charouz , International Draco Racing , ISR , KMP Racing , P1 Motorsport , Pons Racing and Tech 1 Racing ), who also competed in 2011, were Arden International and DAMS from the GP2 series , Atech Reid GP from the Superleague Formula , Koiranen Motorsport from the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup as well as the Max Travin Racing Team and Van Amersfoort Racing from the German Formula 3 Cup .

13 teams were admitted to the 2012 season. EPIC Racing was not selected from the previous racing teams. Arden International and DAMS were awarded the contract to enter the Formula Renault 3.5. EPIC Racing and Koiranen Motorsport were nominated as successors.

Mofaz Racing did not apply for a starting place because the financing could no longer be guaranteed. The team of the family of the Malaysian racing driver Fairuz Fauzy competed in the Formula Renault 3.5 from 2009 to 2011.

In mid-February, Arden announced a cooperation with the motorsport racing team Caterham , which, like Arden, also competed in the GP2 series in 2012 and is also active in Formula 1 . The joint project took part in the Formula Renault 3.5 under the name Arden Caterham Motorsport .

KMP Racing changed its name to RFR in February . RFR is an abbreviation for Russia France Racing or Russian Force Racing . The staff of the racing team changed almost completely. In the long term, the co-owner of the team, Dmitry Sapgir, is striving for a team of technicians that consists exclusively of Russian engineers.

The Gravity-Charouz Racing team operated by Charouz Racing System competed as Lotus in the 2012 season with the support of Lotus Cars .

Changes during the season

• Richie Stanaway broke two vertebrae in an accident at Spa-Francorchamps and was out for the rest of the season. César Ramos was eventually signed to replace Lotus .
• Lewis Williamson was replaced by António Félix da Costa after missing points on the first three race weekends . Williamson also lost his place in the funding program of the beverage manufacturer Red Bull . This also went to Félix da Costa.

Racing calendar

The 2012 season racing calendar was published on October 10, 2011. It comprised nine race weekends, on each of which two races were held. The race in Silverstone , which was held together with ELMS , and the race in Monte Carlo , which took place as part of the Formula 1 supporting program, were not part of the World Series by Renault , which in 2012 included the other seven events.

For the first time, an event was held at the Moscow Raceway in Russia . In Monza , however, there was no more race.

No.	date	Racetrack	winner	Second	Third
01.	05th of May	Alcañiz	Nick Yelloly	Kevin Magnussen	Robin Frijns
02.	0May 6th		Robin Frijns	Sam Bird	Arthur Pic
03.	May 27th	Monte Carlo	Sam Bird	Jules Bianchi	Alexander Rossi
04th	02th of June	Spa Francorchamps	Marco Sørensen	Jules Bianchi	Sam Bird
05.	03rd of June		Kevin Magnussen	Nick Yelloly	Robin Frijns
06th	June 30th	Nürburg	Jules Bianchi	Nico Müller	Robin Frijns
07th	0July 1		Nick Yelloly	Marco Sørensen	André Negrao
08th.	July 14th	Volokolamsk	Robin Frijns	Jules Bianchi	Sam Bird
09.	15th of July		Arthur Pic	Walter Grubmüller	Kevin Korjus
10.	August 25	Silverstone	Jules Bianchi	Robin Frijns	Nigel Melker
11.	26th of August		Sam Bird	António Félix da Costa	Jules Bianchi
12.	September 15th	Mogyoród	Robin Frijns	Kevin Magnussen	Jules Bianchi
13.	16th September		António Félix da Costa	Marco Sørensen	Will Stevens
14th	September 29th	Le Castellet	António Félix da Costa	Nick Yelloly	Daniil Mowe
15th	30. September		Jules Bianchi	António Félix da Costa	Sam Bird
16.	the 20th of October	Barcelona	António Félix da Costa	Sam Bird	Robin Frijns
17th	October 21		António Félix da Costa	Mikhail Alyoshin	Aaro Vainio

Ratings

Point system

The points were awarded in all races according to the following scheme:

position	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10
Points	25th	18th	15th	12	10	8th	6th	4th	2	1

Driver ranking

Item driver  ALC  MON  SPA  ONLY  MOS  SIL  HUN  LEC  CAT Points R1 R2 R1 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 01  R. Frijns 3 1 DNF 7th 3 3 5 1 17th 2 9 1 5 7th 9 3 14th 189 02  J. Bianchi DSQ 13 2 2 17th 1 12 2 7th 1 3 3 9 4th 1 7th DNF 185 03  S. Bird 9 2 1 3 5 8th 4th 3 DNF DNF 1 10 4th 10 3 2 7th 179 04th  A. Felix da Costa           9 11 7th 15th 5 2 4th 1 1 2 1 1 166 05  N. Yelloly 1 18th 7th 9 2 DNF 1 12 16 4th 8th 14th 20th 2 4th 15th 13 122 06th  M. Sørensen 7th DNF 6th 1 7th 6th 2 6th DNF DNF 19 * 8th 2 5 5 10 DNF 122 07th  K. Magnussen 2 DNF DNF 21 * 1 5 8th 16 * 10 DNF DNF 2 23 * 6th 24 * 5 4th 106 08th  A. Pic DNF 3 11 15th DNF 4th DNF 4th 1 DNF 4th 5 6th DNF 14th 11 6th 102 09  N. Muller DNF DNF 5 5 4th 2 DNF 8th DNF DNF 7th 6th DNF 8th 7th 12 15th 78 10  K. Korjus DNF 4th 4th DNF 13 14th DNF 5 3 DNF 15th 12 7th 9 8th 6th 17th 69 11  A. Rossi DNF 5 3 11 DNF 18th 9 17 * 5 DNF 5 9 8th 22nd 16 19th 5 63 12  W. Stevens 6th 8th 12 13 8th 10 13 10 8th DNF 6th 23 3 11 11 4th 9 59 13  M. Alyoshin DNF 11 8th 4th DNF 13 6th 14th 9 11 * 17 * DNF 19th 12 17th 9 2 46 14th  W. Grubmüller 16 DNF 9 8th 6th 7th 15th DNF 2 9 DNF 20th 10 13 12 13 10 42 15th  A. Negra 8th 10 DNF 12 12 19th 3 13 4th DNF 16 15th DNF DNF 22nd 14th 8th 36 16  C. Huertas 4th 12 10 DNF DNF 23 * DNF DNF 6th 6th 11 7th 12 15th 15th 18th 18th 35 17th  D. Mowe 17th 7th 15th 14th 14th 15th 7th 9 11 DNF 14th 17th 15th 3 25 * 21st 16 29 18th  A. Vainio                       DNF 18th 16 6th 8th 3 27 19th  N. Milker                   3 DNF             15th 20th  N. Marzenko 5 15th 18th 10 9 21st DNF DNF 18th DNF 12 DNF 14th 23 21st 25th 20th 13 21st  J. Rosenzweig DNF DNF DNF 6th 18th 11 17 * DNF 12 DNF 13 16 22nd 20th 20th 17th 11 8th 22nd  R. Stanaway DNF 6th DNF NC DNF INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ 8th 23  L. Foresti 11 DNF 17th DNF DNF DNF 10 18 * 14th 7th 18th 11 13 14th 10 DNF DNF 8th 24  V. Ghirelli 12 17th 16 20 * DNF DNF DNF 11 DNF 8th 10 21st 17th 17th 23 20th 19th 5 25th  G. Venturini DNF 9 DNF 16 10 22nd 14th                     3 26th  Z. Amberg 10 16 14th 18th DNF 16 18th 15th 13 DNF DNF 13 16 18th DNF 24 22nd 1 27  D. Zampieri                   10 DNF             1 28  T. Pál Kiss                       19th 11     22nd 12 0 29  Y. Cunha 15th DNF DNF 17th 11 17th DNF 19th DNF DNF DNF 22nd 21st 21st 19th 23 21st 0 30th  C. Ramos           12 DNF DNF DNF                 0 31  A. Nebylizki 13 14th 20th DNS 15th 20th 16 DNF DNF DNF DNF             0 32  L. Williamson 14th DNF 13 19th 16                         0 33  D. Rigon                           19th 13     0 34  D. Dept.                       18th 24 DNF 18th 16 DNF 0 35  S. Sirotkin               20th DNF                 0 Item driver R1 R2 R1 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 R1 R2 Points  ALC  MON  SPA  ONLY  MOS  SIL  HUN  LEC  CAT

colour meaning gold winner silver 2nd place bronze 3rd place green Placement in the points blue Classified outside the point ranks violet Race not finished ( DNF ) not classified (NC) red not qualified (DNQ) black disqualified (DSQ) White not at the start ( DNS ) withdrawn (WD) Race canceled (C) colourless not participated in the training (DNP) injured or sick (INJ) excluded (EX) did not appear (DNA) Bold - pole position Italic - fastest race lap * - not at the finish, but counted due to the distance covered

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} “New Formula Renault 3.5 unveiled at Silverstone”  ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) (renault-sport.com on August 20, 2011)
2. ↑ ^{a b} "Silverstone: New WSbR car presented" (Motorsport-Total.com on August 21, 2011)
3. ^ “Kevin Magnussen moves to FR3.5 with Carlin for 2012” (autosport.com on October 20, 2011)
4. ^ "WS by Renault - Stevens drives for Carlin in 2012" (Motorsport-Magazin.com on December 15, 2011)
5. ↑ “Carlos Huertas joins Fortec for Formula Renault 3.5” (autosport.com on November 28, 2011)
6. ↑ “Robin Frijns graduates to FR3.5 with Fortec” (autosport.com on January 30, 2012)
7. ↑ ^{a b} “Sam Bird switches to FR3.5 with ISR” (autosport.com on February 24, 2012)
8. ↑ "Kevin Korjus retains Tech 1 Formula Renault 3.5 seat" (autosport.com on January 19, 2012)
9. ↑ Robert Seiwert: "WS by Renault - Abt from now on in the cockpit of Tech 1". Ascent at Bianchi's side. Motorsport-Magazin.com, September 11, 2012, accessed on September 12, 2012 . 
10. ↑ "WSbR: Bianchi signs with Tech 1" (Motorsport-Total.com on February 9, 2012)
11. ↑ ^{a b} “Walter Grubmuller and Daniil Move stay with P1 Motorsport in Formula Renault 3.5” (autosport.com on February 3, 2012)
12. ^ "Stanaway speculates on Young Driver Test" (Motorsport-Total.com on February 19, 2012)
13. ↑ ^{a b} "FR3.5: Ramos remplace Stan Away". autohebdo.fr, June 18, 2012, accessed June 18, 2012 (French). 
14. ^ "FR 3.5: Melker à Silverstone". autohebdo.fr, 23 August 2012, accessed 24 August 2012 (French). 
15. ↑ Frederik Hackbarth: "WS by Renault - Korjus from now on with Lotus under contract". The next change of place. Motorsport-Magazin.com, September 12, 2012, accessed September 12, 2012 . 
16. ↑ ^{a b} "WS by Renault - Lotus enters Formula Renault 3.5" (Motorsport-Magazin.com on March 2, 2012)
17. ^ "Venturini nuovo pilota di BVM Target Mercato piloti chiuso" ( Memento from July 5, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) (italiaracing.net on March 10, 2012)
18. ↑ "FR3.5 - Sirotkin chez BVM". autohebdo.fr, July 12, 2012, accessed July 14, 2012 (French). 
19. ^ "FR 3.5 - Zampieri sera à Silverstone". autohebdo.fr, August 20, 2012, accessed August 24, 2012 . 
20. ^ "Pal Kiss debutta con BVM Target a Budapest". (No longer available online.) Italiaracing.net, September 6, 2012, archived from the original on July 5, 2014 ; Retrieved September 12, 2012 (Italian). 
21. ↑ Glenn Freeman: “Davide Rigon joins FR3.5 team BVM Target for Paul Ricard event”. autosport.com, September 26, 2012, accessed September 29, 2012 . 
22. ^ "Aleshin con KMP, Martsenko con BVM Target" ( Memento from September 2, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (italiaracing.net on February 20, 2012)
23. ↑ ^{a b c d} “Mikhail Aleshin returns to FR3.5 with RFR” (autosport.com on February 23, 2012)
24. ↑ ^{a b} "Il jolly Bianchi" (italiaracing.net on February 1, 2012)
25. ↑ Frederik Hackbarth: "WS by Renault - Vainio makes series debut with RFR". Melker does not drive in Hungary. Motorsport-Magazin.com, September 11, 2012, accessed on September 12, 2012 . 
26. ↑ “Yann Cunha to drive for Pons Racing in 2012 and 2013” (autosport.com on December 15, 2011)
27. ↑ “Amberg joins Pons for 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 campaign” ( Memento from December 20, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (motorstv.com on December 8, 2011)
28. ↑ “Nico Muller to partner Andre Negrao at Draco in FR3.5” (autosport.com on February 29, 2012)
29. ↑ “Ghirelli to partner Yelloly as Comtec completes 2012 FR3.5 line-up” (autosport.com on March 7, 2012)
30. ↑ “Nick Yelloly signs for Comtec in Formula Renault 3.5” (autosport.com on February 20, 2012)
31. ^ "Rossi alla Arden via Caterham" ( Memento from September 2, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) (italiaracing.net on January 26, 2012)
32. ^ "Lewis Williamson stays with Arden for Formula Renault 3.5 move" (autosport.com on December 4, 2011)
33. ^ ^{A b} Glenn Freeman: “Red Bull drops Lewis Williamson from its junior program and promotes Felix de Costa”. autosport.com, June 28, 2012, accessed June 28, 2012 . 
34. ^ "WS by Renault - Foresti switches to DAMS" (Motorsport-Magazin.com on February 15, 2012)
35. ↑ "WSbR: Arthur Pic driving for DAMS" (Motorsport-Total.com December 21, 2011)
36. ↑ “18 teams apply for 2012 season”  ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) (renault-sport.com on October 10, 2011)
37. ↑ “DAMS and Arden will compete in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2012” (autosport.com on October 17, 2011)
38. ↑ “Mofaz Formula Renault 3.5 team to close” (autosport.com on October 7, 2011)
39. ↑ “Arden joins forces with Caterham for Formula Renault 3.5 team” (autosport.com on February 15, 2012)
40. ↑ “Михаил Алешин: RFR - серьезный и перспективный проект” (f1news.ru on February 21, 2012)
41. ↑ Christian Nimmervoll: "WSbR season for Stanaway ended". Motorsport-Total.com, June 8, 2012, accessed June 8, 2012 . 
42. ↑ “Seven meetings and new horizons in 2012”  ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) (worldseriesbyrenault.com on October 10, 2011)