World Series Formula V8 3.5

World Series Formula V8 3.5
Country	Global
Inaugural season	1998
Folded	2017
Constructors	Zytek (2016–2017)
Tyre suppliers	Michelin
Last Drivers' champion	Pietro Fittipaldi
Last Teams' champion	Lotus
Official website	Official website

The World Series Formula V8 3.5, formerly the World Series by Nissan from 1998 to 2004, the Formula Renault 3.5 Series from 2005 to 2015 and the Formula V8 3.5 in 2016 and 2017, was a

motor racing series promoted by RPM Racing (1998–2004) and Renault Sport

(2005–2015).

History

The series came out of the

Jaime Alguersuari Tortajada

. The series changed name a number of times, usually adopting the name of its main sponsor, but was also known by other common names such as the unofficial "Formula Nissan".

In its early years, the series used chassis built by

Coloni, with a 2.0 L Nissan SR20 engine. The series slotted in between Formula Three and Formula 3000. In 2002, it adopted a new format, with chassis supplied by Dallara and the engine upgraded to the VQ30

. The series also became more international, with more than half of the race calendar held outside Spain.

Renault started the Formula Renault V6 Eurocup in 2003, as a support series in Eurosport's Super Racing Weekends (European Touring Car Championship and FIA GT Championship). The series ran with Tatuus chassis and a Nissan 3.5 L V6 engine.

In 2005, Renault left the Super Racing Weekend and started the World Series by Renault and the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, merging both the World Series by Nissan (whose engine contract had finished) and Renault V6 Eurocup. The Dallara chassis was retained, while the Renault V6 was improved to 425 PS.

Eurocup Mégane Trophy

also joined the series in 2005 to support the main FR3.5 series.

At the end of July 2015, Renault Sport announced it would be withdrawing its backing to the Formula Renault 3.5 from 2016 onwards, handing the control of the series to co-organiser RPM. However, Renault Sport also said it would continue the World Series by Renault with the Renault Sport Trophy and the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup.^[3] As a result of this, RPM decided to change the series' name to Formula V8 3.5.^[4] In December 2016, the series' name was changed again to World Series Formula V8 3.5, giving extra recognition to the championship.^[5] On 17 November 2017 was announced that due to lack of entries the series would not take place in 2018 with a possibility of relaunch in the near future.^[6]

Technical

From 2008 to 2011, the chassis for the Formula Renault 3.5 Series is the Dallara T08 and the engine a 3.5 litre V6 Nissan VQ35 unit producing 480 bhp with a rev limit of 8500 rpm. The gearbox is a 6 speed semi-automatic supplied by Ricardo with steering wheel paddle shift. Total weight of the car is 600 kg (dry).

Starting from 2012 season, the Formula Renault 3.5 Series adopted a new chassis, the

Drag Reduction System is used, which operates in a similar way to the one in use in Formula One.^[7]

Specifications

Engine displacement: 3.4 L (207 cu in)
DOHC V8

Gearbox: 6-speed paddle shift gearbox (must have reverse)
Weight: 623 kg (1,373 lb)
Power output: 530 hp (395 kW)
Torque output: 330 lb⋅ft (447 N⋅m)
Fuel: Elf LMS 102 RON unleaded
Fuel capacity: 29 US gallons (110 litres)
Fuel delivery: Fuel injection
Aspiration:
Normally-aspirated
Length: 5,070 mm (200 in)
Width: 1,930 mm (76 in)
Wheelbase: 3,125 mm (123 in)
Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion

Champions

World Series by Nissan

Season	Series Name	Champion	Team Champion	Ref
1998	Open Fortuna by Nissan	Marc Gené	Campos Motorsport	^[8]
1999	Euro Open MoviStar by Nissan	Fernando Alonso	Campos Motorsport	^[9]
2000	Open Telefónica by Nissan	Antonio García	Campos Motorsport	^[10]
2001	Open Telefónica by Nissan	Franck Montagny	Vergani Racing	^[11]
2002	Telefónica World Series	Ricardo Zonta	Racing Engineering	^[12]
2003	Superfund World Series	Franck Montagny	Gabord Competición	^[13]
2004	World Series by Nissan	Heikki Kovalainen	Pons Racing	^[14]

NOTE – 1998–2001, mainly Spanish-based series (also known as Formula Nissan) with 2.0L engine.
NOTE – 2002–2004, international series with V6 engine.

World Series Light

Season	Champion	Team Champion	Ref
2002	Santiago Porteiro	Meycom	^[15]
2003	Juan Cruz Álvarez	Meycom	^[16]
2004	Miloš Pavlović	Vergani Racing	^[17]

Formula Renault 3.5 Series

Season	Champion	Team Champion	Rookie of the year	Ref
2005	Robert Kubica	Epsilon Euskadi	not awarded	^[18]
2006	Alx Danielsson	Interwetten.com	not awarded	^[19]
2007	Álvaro Parente	Tech 1 Racing	Filipe Albuquerque	^[20]
2008	Giedo van der Garde	Tech 1 Racing	Charles Pic	^[21]
2009	Bertrand Baguette	International DracoRacing	Oliver Turvey	^[22]
2010	Mikhail Aleshin	Tech 1 Racing	Daniel Ricciardo	^[23]
2011	Robert Wickens	Carlin	Alexander Rossi	^[24]
2012	Robin Frijns	Tech 1 Racing	Robin Frijns	^[25]
2013	Kevin Magnussen	DAMS	Stoffel Vandoorne	^[26]
2014	Carlos Sainz Jr.	DAMS	Pierre Gasly	^[27]
2015	Oliver Rowland	Fortec Motorsports	Nyck de Vries	^[28]