A category with a history of revealing numerous motor racing talents, the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 sees its 2015 edition coincide with the Formula Renault’s 45th season.
The six days of collective tests saw the drivers break the Circuit Le Mans Bugatti, Motorland Aragón and Circuito de Jerez track records. With eight different men at the top of the time sheet, it will be an intense battle to succeed Nyck de Vries and claim the 500,000€ sponsorship to move on to the next level.
Runner-up to the Dutchman, Dennis Olsen (Manor MP Motorsport) and his new team were discreet during the off-season but are among the favourites. However, the competition is stout, beginning with 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC champion, Ben Barnicoat (Fortec Motorsports), who is also a McLaren and Racing Steps Foundation protégé.
Defending team champion, Koiranen GP enters a trio composed of Formula Renault 1.6 NEC Junior title winner Anton De Pasquale, 2013 BRDC F4 champion Jake Hughes, and Jack Aitken. Victorious at Budapest last year, the British-Korean driver is already the leader in the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS after sharing top honours at Imola with Anthoine Hubert (Tech 1 Racing) on April 11 and 12.
The Frenchman returns in order to validate the hopes placed in him, as are Callan O’Keeffe (Fortec Motorsports), Simon Gachet (Tech 1 Racing), James Allen (ARTA Engineering) as well as Kevin Jörg (Josef Kaufmann Racing), who finished on the podium at Alcañiz in 2014.
Other drivers also want to mix it up with the leaders. Regularly among the quickest during the collective tests, Ukyo Sasahara (ART Junior Team) and Louis Delétraz (Josef Kaufmann Racing), second in the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC, both scored a win at Monza in the opening round of the NEC last weekend.
With six titles in the category, JD Motorsport makes its return with Thiago Vivacqua and Matevos Isaakyan, third in the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS. Two drivers to follow in Spain, as well as Martin Kodri? (Fortec Motorsports), Luke Chudleigh (Fortec Motorsports), Darius Oskoui (ART Junior Team), Hugo de Sadeleer (Tech 1 Racing), Amaury Richard (ARTA Engineering), Harrison Scott (AVF), Iñigo Bikuña (AVF), Charlie Eastwood (Strakka Racing), Thiago Vivacqua (JD Motorsport), Ignazio D’Agosto (Manor MP Motorsport) and defending French F4 champion Lasse Sørensen (Manor MP Motorsport).
Race 1: Saturday 25 April at 12h40
Race 2: Saturday 25 April at 16h20
Race 3: Sunday 26 April at 12h15
World Series by Renault
