2016 Formula Renault silly season thread

[Formulahistory]

Eurocup

Josef Kaufmann: Jehan Daruvala – Lando Norris – Dries Vanthoor (?) – Ukyo Sasahara (?)
Fortec: Ferdinand Habsburg – Vasily Romanov – Bruno Baptista – Nikita Troitskiy
Tech-1: Hugo de Sadeleer – Sacha Fenestraz – Gabriel Aubry – Darius Oskoui (?)
ART Junior: Harrison Scott (?) – Max Defourny (?) – Julien Falchero (?) – Valentin Moineault (?)
JD: James Allen – Alexey Korneev (?) – Ghislain Cordeel (?) – Joao Vieira (?)
AVF: Henrique Chaves – Denis Bulatov (?) – Ricky Collard (?) – Yan Shlom (?)
ARTA: Hugo Sugnot-Darniche – Amaury Richard (?) – Ignazio D'Agosto (?) – Julien Darras (?)

NEC

Josef Kaufmann: Jehan Daruvala – Lando Norris – Dries Vanthoor (?) – Ukyo Sasahara (?)
ART Junior: Harrison Scott (?) – Max Defourny – Julien Falchero (?) – Valentin Moineault (?)
Fortec: Ferdinand Habsburg – Vasily Romanov – Bruno Baptista – Nikita Troitskiy
AVF: Henrique Chaves (?) – Denis Bulatov (?) – Ricky Collard (?)– Yan Shlom (?)
MGR: Colin Noble (?)
Prizma: Pontus Fredricsson (?)
Inter Europol: David Richert (?)
Mark Burdett: Valentin Hasse-Clot (?)
PositiOne: Harri Salminen (?) – Mikko Perttala (?)
Hutchison: Finlay Hutchison (?)



ALPS

JD: James Allen (?) – Alexey Korneev (?) – Ghislain Cordeel (?) – Joao Vieira (?)
Fortec: Nikita Troitskiy – Ferdinand Habsburg (?) – Vasily Romanov (?) – Bruno Baptista (?)
Cram: Travis Jordan Fischer (?) – Matteo Ferrer (?) – Danylo Pronenko (?)
BVM: Luca Corberi (?)
ARTA: Hugo Sugnot-Darniche (?) – Amaury Richard (?) – Ignazio D'Agosto (?) – Julien Darras (?)
GSK: Alessandro Perullo (?) – Greg Holloway (?) – Diego Bertonelli (?)
Tech-1: Hugo de Sadeleer (?) – Sacha Fenestraz (?) – Gabriel Aubry (?) – Darius Oskoui (?)
TS: Alessandro Buran (?) - Pietro Peccinini (?)

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

I get the feeling that the Eurocup will maintain a strong field, but not the depth of talent that it had in 2015, whilst the regional series' will suffer more from the stupid super license points system (imo totally unnecessary, a kneejerk reaction to the backlash from uninformed people after Verstappen was signed into F1) and also the loss of FR3.5 from the Renault Sport group.

Eurocup already has talented drivers such as Norris, Daruvala, Fenestraz all confirmed, whilst drivers like Defourny will probably return and do well. I think Defourny could surprise people for 2016...

[bella]

disagree about the superlicence points system, it's a good idea but poorly implemented and heavily biased towards the fia's own series which lbr, are only going to remain relevant and cost-effective with viable alternatives such as formula renault 2.0 and 3.5 plus gp3 in the market.

think you're right about the strength of the two litre field in '16 - there's a somewhat predictable level of support from the young french drivers which is probably keeping it afloat. without that, it'd be looking a bit thin on the ground.

i don't think the regional series will suffer particularly - they're still a sound investment for the return in track time, and it's mentioned frequently in the press how those lacking a nec or alps programme this season felt they were at a disadvantage to the guys who did double up.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

Hence why the likes of Norris and Daruvala are competing in a duel programme in NEC. I just feel that with the FIA failing to use the points system in the proper way, the number of talented drivers (and drivers in general) in the NEC and Alps will fall. It will affect the Eurocup as well, but that generally has drivers from both series competing, and drivers doing a sole Eurocup programme, so there'll be more talent and greater numbers.

I suppose the license system isn't all bad, but I agree that the FIA have done a woeful and blatantly biased job with the allocation of points. Getting rid of FR Eurocup as a viable junior step is a very bad move, as it provides a much needed bridge between F4 and F3, where only the best talents or those with backing enough to do a lot of testing look competent.

If anything, with the FIA claiming they need regional F3 series to return, having just killed them off completely, instead they should be supporting series such as BRDC F4, Euroformula Open and FR2.0 as the 'in-between' step from F4 and F3. Although EFO may have just struck up an important relationship with F3.5V8, who knows...

[bella]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

Hence why the likes of Norris and Daruvala are competing in a duel programme in NEC. I just feel that with the FIA failing to use the points system in the proper way, the number of talented drivers (and drivers in general) in the NEC and Alps will fall. It will affect the Eurocup as well, but that generally has drivers from both series competing, and drivers doing a sole Eurocup programme, so there'll be more talent and greater numbers.

just a point about the superlicence, but unless autosport have cocked up on their piece about the revised points recently or there's a "no scoring in two formulae in one year" rule, then jack aitken will have scored 20 points for his 1x eurocup and 1x alps titles. so already he's halfway to his f1 superlicence. seems fair enough to me from that point of view? what it doesn't reward is midfield success in the same miniscule way the system does for f4.

[Racing Harz]

Why should Sasahara drive again in FR 2.0? He must step up in 3.5/GP3/Formula 3 and he is ready for the step.

[ShettyRakS]

Definately Norris Vs Daruvala, the 1 to watch out throughout d season !! Norris & Daruvala will be teammates not only in the NEC and Eurocup championships but also in Toyota racing NZ.. & They r also driving for Championship winning Squads in FR & TRS.. Think they wer also teammates in World Karting Championship, when Norris finished 1st & Daruvala 3rd !!

[JD Media]

Sasahara did a lot of testing in 3.5 & FIA F3, he will do one of those two i guess.

It's a big shame that Koiranen & Manor MP left the Formula Renault 2.0 series, but still there will be enough good racing with good talents like Defourny, Norris, Deruvala, Fenestraz, Allen, Habsburg & many more.

[LavidaLoca]

Originally Posted by JD Media

Sasahara did a lot of testing in 3.5 & FIA F3, he will do one of those two i guess.

It's a big shame that Koiranen & Manor MP left the Formula Renault 2.0 series, but still there will be enough good racing with good talents like Defourny, Norris, Deruvala, Fenestraz, Allen, Habsburg & many more.

Which team did Sasahara test for in FIA F3?

[pericu]

Originally Posted by LavidaLoca

Which team did Sasahara test for in FIA F3?

At least, he tested with VAR.
Eurocup 2.0 will keep a strong grid this year despite we lost Koiranen and Manor MP. The Kaufmann line up looks the strongest, and at this moment I could only see the duo Defourny-ART as the principal opposition. It is expected that Kaufmann will put a 3rd car this season. Maybe it will be to Dries Vanthoor, but some russian talented guy tested with him also...

On the other hand, Tech1 has confirmed he will do NEC series. Thats a big trouble to ALPS, also with the lost of Koiranen. But it could be a good news for 'small' teams like ARTA, Cram or JD because they will have the chance to win.

[Roninho]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

If anything, with the FIA claiming they need regional F3 series to return, having just killed them off completely, instead they should be supporting series such as BRDC F4, Euroformula Open and FR2.0 as the 'in-between' step from F4 and F3. Although EFO may have just struck up an important relationship with F3.5V8, who knows...

Why would there need to be an "in between step" between f4 and f3? If anything we need less series and classes.

I'd say we need 3 levels (a la formula ford - f3 - f3000) & a system that keeps costs under control.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

There shouldn't in theory need to be an in between step, otherwise we may as well call current F4 'F5,' but the sheer volume of drivers is a problem.

[JD Media]

Originally Posted by pericu

At least, he tested with VAR.
Eurocup 2.0 will keep a strong grid this year despite we lost Koiranen and Manor MP. The Kaufmann line up looks the strongest, and at this moment I could only see the duo Defourny-ART as the principal opposition. It is expected that Kaufmann will put a 3rd car this season. Maybe it will be to Dries Vanthoor, but some russian talented guy tested with him also...

On the other hand, Tech1 has confirmed he will do NEC series. Thats a big trouble to ALPS, also with the lost of Koiranen. But it could be a good news for 'small' teams like ARTA, Cram or JD because they will have the chance to win.

Dries Vanthoor confirmed on his facebook he will not do single seaters next year, i wouldn't be surprised to see him race a WRT Audi next year, maybe next to Laurens Vanthoor!?

I missed the news about Tech1 joining the NEC, but that should be good for the NEC series!

[Roninho]

Originally Posted by Biscuits In A Red Bull

There shouldn't in theory need to be an in between step, otherwise we may as well call current F4 'F5,' but the sheer volume of drivers is a problem.

You'd solve that with national championships at the entry level and regional series at the 2nd ("f3") level. And have some selected races that are open to everyone to have the best of the regional series fight each other (monaco f3, zandvoort masters, pau, macau, for example).

[Racing Harz]

The ALPS Series is history...
http://www.paddockscout.com/formula-...for-2016/32829

[jodi]

Originally Posted by Racing Harz

The ALPS Series is history...
http://www.paddockscout.com/formula-...for-2016/32829

I was just about to comment to say a few teams are not taking part in Alps this year, but then this just sums it up!

[Formulahistory]

I think it's the right way as we have the F4 series for the regional basis. Formula Renault has to concetrate on the international Eurocup series...

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by Formulahistory

I think it's the right way as we have the F4 series for the regional basis. Formula Renault has to concetrate on the international Eurocup series...

With races in Italy, Austria, Belgium, France and Spain was the Alps Series really international, too.

[Formulahistory]

But they should concentrate von Eurocup, there is no room for so many lowest feeder serieses...

[jodi]

Originally Posted by Formulahistory

But they should concentrate von Eurocup, there is no room for so many lowest feeder serieses...

but when there's young kids with money....

[Formulahistory]

Defourny confirmed at ART Junior:

Josef Kaufmann: Jehan Daruvala – Lando Norris
Fortec: Ferdinand Habsburg – Vasily Romanov – Bruno Baptista – Nikita Troitskiy
Tech-1: Hugo de Sadeleer – Sacha Fenestraz – Gabriel Aubry – Darius Oskoui (?)
ART Junior: Max Defourny – Harrison Scott (?) – Julien Falchero (?) – Valentin Moineault (?)
JD: James Allen – Alexey Korneev (?) – Ghislain Cordeel (?) – Joao Vieira (?)
AVF: Henrique Chaves – Denis Bulatov (?) – Ricky Collard (?) – Yan Shlom (?)
ARTA: Hugo Sugnot-Darniche – Amaury Richard (?) – Ignazio D'Agosto (?) – Julien Darras (?)

[Roninho]

How would the budget for a year in FR Alps compare to a budget for the italian championship version of Autogp?

With Alps gone, FR eurocup being quite full i imagine so not many drives available, and GP3/V8 3.5/F3 euroseries etc will all cost much more compared to FR Alps there is not that many directions to go for a driver from that region i imagine.

[JD Media]

I think the 'big' ALPS teams & drivers will do NEC instead, will be the same budget i guess. Only the small Italian teams will end up... somewhere else!? Let's hope some will do Auto GP like ALPS team TS Corse will.

[Racing Harz]

Originally Posted by JD Media

I think the 'big' ALPS teams & drivers will do NEC instead, will be the same budget i guess. Only the small Italian teams will end up... somewhere else!? Let's hope some will do Auto GP like ALPS team TS Corse will.

I think they will do Italian Formula 4... or maybe the REMUS Formula Pokal
http://www.afr-pokale.com/

[Roninho]

Yeah i imagine the top teams do the nec. And last year they ended with ~20 cars on the grid so there should be some grid space.

Maybe some will go for Euroformula F3? I would imagine that would be the least costly formula above FR, and still has some spots.