So the Renault 3.5 world series by Renault is set to start next weekend in Monza and whilst some would say the vast amount of talent has switched to GP2 this year there is no question that this years World Series line up looks as if it will bring us exciting racing.
For those of you who are uninitiated in the world series it is an alternative to GP2 as a feeder series to F1 and is sometimes favoured by the F1 teams as a feeder series due to its more similar technology. Last years champion was Kevin Magnusen and previous graduates from the series have been Sebastian Vettel, Jules Bianchi, Jean Eric Vergne and Danial Ricciardo. The series runs for 9 rounds with 2 races at each round, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. There is no reverse grids here as they have a Saturday and Sunday quali. Most of the races are in Europe including races at Nurberg, Hungaroring, Spa and of course Monaco which is the only one on the same weekend as the F1.
This years field certainly looks interesting and as the series has traditionally been a Red Bull stomping ground its no surprise that the favourite going into the series is Red Bull junior driver Carlos Sainz Jr who has jumped into the seat vacated by Kmag at DAMS. Sainz Jr will surely be focusing on impressing in this series whilst keeping a hopeful eye on Jean Eric Vergnes progress in the Toro Rosso F1 team hoping his time there will expire so he can jump into that seat too.
Sainz will have to keep his head in the game though as he is not the only young Red Bull driver in the series. Pierre Gasly who won the Renault Eurocup last year has been given his chance at Christian Horner's Arden team and word is he is very very quuck and will certainly be one to look out for.
Also of interest to the F1 viewer will be the progress of the notorious Sergy Sirotkin who is in his second year in the series this time driving for Fortec. Due to his backing by the Russians behind Sauber and there attempts to elevate him too soon Sirotkin has got a rep as a pay driver however he is very quick and has continued to be so in testing. I expect him to challenge for wins this year and he might surprise a few people.
Someone else to watch out for is Enstone young driver Marco Sorrensen for Tech-1 who comes very highly rated and may have pushed Magnusen and Vandorne last year if he hadn't had an underpowered car for two thirds of the season.
There are three quick Brits in Will Stevens at Stuka (Caterham youth driver), Will Buller at Arden and Oliver Rowland at Fortec who could all figure. Norman Nato at DAMS has been on the pace in every series he's ever been in and Italian rookie Luca Ghiotto is driving for Draco this year and he mixed up with Gasly in the Eurocup last year you have to predict he could again this year. One of my faves from last years GP3 Tio Elinas joins the series and should be quick but the fastest in testing was a Brazilian name Pietro Fantin for Draco racing whose career, I have to admitt, has passed me by until now.
For those of you who have not watched the World Series before it is always exciting to watch (the championship in 2 of the last 3 seasons has gone down to a direct scrap in the last race of the season) and worth a look if you have the time. I have it series linked on TVO and just catch up when I can.
British viewers can see the races live on Eurosport or catch up with the handy tuesday night review programme. The season starts on April 12th at Monza.
For those of you who are uninitiated in the world series it is an alternative to GP2 as a feeder series to F1 and is sometimes favoured by the F1 teams as a feeder series due to its more similar technology. Last years champion was Kevin Magnusen and previous graduates from the series have been Sebastian Vettel, Jules Bianchi, Jean Eric Vergne and Danial Ricciardo. The series runs for 9 rounds with 2 races at each round, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. There is no reverse grids here as they have a Saturday and Sunday quali. Most of the races are in Europe including races at Nurberg, Hungaroring, Spa and of course Monaco which is the only one on the same weekend as the F1.
This years field certainly looks interesting and as the series has traditionally been a Red Bull stomping ground its no surprise that the favourite going into the series is Red Bull junior driver Carlos Sainz Jr who has jumped into the seat vacated by Kmag at DAMS. Sainz Jr will surely be focusing on impressing in this series whilst keeping a hopeful eye on Jean Eric Vergnes progress in the Toro Rosso F1 team hoping his time there will expire so he can jump into that seat too.
Sainz will have to keep his head in the game though as he is not the only young Red Bull driver in the series. Pierre Gasly who won the Renault Eurocup last year has been given his chance at Christian Horner's Arden team and word is he is very very quuck and will certainly be one to look out for.
Also of interest to the F1 viewer will be the progress of the notorious Sergy Sirotkin who is in his second year in the series this time driving for Fortec. Due to his backing by the Russians behind Sauber and there attempts to elevate him too soon Sirotkin has got a rep as a pay driver however he is very quick and has continued to be so in testing. I expect him to challenge for wins this year and he might surprise a few people.
Someone else to watch out for is Enstone young driver Marco Sorrensen for Tech-1 who comes very highly rated and may have pushed Magnusen and Vandorne last year if he hadn't had an underpowered car for two thirds of the season.
There are three quick Brits in Will Stevens at Stuka (Caterham youth driver), Will Buller at Arden and Oliver Rowland at Fortec who could all figure. Norman Nato at DAMS has been on the pace in every series he's ever been in and Italian rookie Luca Ghiotto is driving for Draco this year and he mixed up with Gasly in the Eurocup last year you have to predict he could again this year. One of my faves from last years GP3 Tio Elinas joins the series and should be quick but the fastest in testing was a Brazilian name Pietro Fantin for Draco racing whose career, I have to admitt, has passed me by until now.
For those of you who have not watched the World Series before it is always exciting to watch (the championship in 2 of the last 3 seasons has gone down to a direct scrap in the last race of the season) and worth a look if you have the time. I have it series linked on TVO and just catch up when I can.
British viewers can see the races live on Eurosport or catch up with the handy tuesday night review programme. The season starts on April 12th at Monza.
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