REWORKED RENAULT ATTRACTS TEAMS
Leading single-seater teams Arden and MP Motorsport are considering a move into the revamped Eurocup Formula Renault next season.
Both teams currently compete in GP2 and FIA Formula 4 series and believe the Eurocup could be a good stepping stone for drivers.
Last month Renault Sport announced that the calendar would increase from seven events to 10 in 2017, as well as there being more races per weekend. The French manufacturer also pledged to fund the top two drivers in the standings in 2018 and make them Renault Sport Academy members.
The changes have proved attractive to Arden and MP with both seriously considering an entry, once they’ve received additional information about the series from Renault.
Arden general manager Julian Rouse said: “The changes make it look more interesting for us. The number of rounds and races a weekend increasing is appealing as it makes it a more substantial package for drivers as they wouldn’t have to look at other spin-off series.
“It also fits in well with [British] F4 for us and will have a lot more backing from Renault. That’s really positive and would make it a good environment for drivers.
“We’re still waiting for some information from Renault and once we get that by the end of September we will make a final decision.”
MP previously competed in the series before withdrawing at the end of last season to concentrate on its GP2 and SMP F4 programmes. MP’S Tony Shaw added: “There is a possibility we will return but it depends on the driver market. “Renault is working quite hard to give it a revamp and it’s a brilliant little car and training formula – it marks the good drivers out from the mediocre ones. “The current state of what we do is you step out of an F4 car into a GP2 car and we need to fill that void.” Arden has yet to decide whether it will remain part of the Formula V8 3.5 Series after the category has struggled this year following Renault’s withdrawal. Rouse said: “It’s too early to say. The 3.5 series has always been good for us and we like being involved in it. Once we get all the information from Renault [about the Eurocup] we will sit down and look at the position.” FV8 3.5 will feature races on the World Endurance Championship support bill in 2017.