Automobile News

Bringing an end to month long speculations about which venue will be entrusted with the responsibility of hosting the 2009 Renault World Series, Renault has recently announced that Silverstone will take up the remaining slot to effectively seal the race calendar for the 2009 Formula Renault UK. For those who are new to the World Series, it is both like and unlike conventional Formula One racing, as it combines the nuances of on-track racing and Formula One demonstrations coupled with off-track activities.

Just two weeks prior to the British Grand Prix, the Northamptonshire circuit is slated to host the first leg of the competition by Renault on 4th and 5th July 2009.

Formula Renault UK, Michelin Championship and 2009 ELF Renault Clio Cup, each have two races at World Series by Renault. The remaining 18 rounds are contested by both one-make championships alongside the British Touring Car Championship at circuits across the UK that takes off on 4th and 5th April 2009.

A major sporting event in the British calendar, the event has been generating a lot of eye balls in recent times. If attendance figures are to be taken as a criteria to measure an event’s popularity, the World Series by Renault would rank second best only to the British GP with six-figure attendance figures in 2007 and 2008. The highlight of this ‘free for all’ event happens to be the demonstrations by ING Renault F1 Team.

Speaking on the sidelines after announcing the selection of Silverstone Grand Prix circuit as the venue for World Series by Renault in 2009, Renault UK Director of Press and PR Tim Jackson said that the team is happy to come back to the prestigious venue again in 2009, especially after witnessing a remarkable success story in 2008, when a record 110,000 spectators witnessed the spectacle.

As the then freshly crowned world champion Fernando Alonso switched from Renault to McLaren-Mercedes at the end of 2006, he also brought the Spanish bank “Santander” with him as a main sponsor. The only problem was that Alonso left the team after one season, and the doors for the Spanish sponsors were closed at Renault which Alonso rejoined. At Renault the Dutch ING bank apparently holds the monopoly on sponsoring.

However, the Alonso/Santander team could pair up again in 2010, but this time at Ferrari. According to reports, the Spanish sponsors are eyeing a possible partnership with Ferrari.

It’s no giant secret that Alonso fancies a partnership with Ferrari, and the possible deal between the Spanish Bank and the Italians has only helped to further rumours, even if Santander spokespeople are remaining quiet. “We won’t comment”, the Santader spokesperson was quoted as saying. “We have a contract with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes that runs until the end of 2009.”

Alonso’s contract with Renault lasts just as long, although it also contains an early exit clause. Of course Ferrari is not at all the only possible destination for the Spaniard. The BMW Sauber F1 Team, as well as Honda or Red Bull, would all also like to vie for the Spaniard’s services.