Inaugurated in June 2012 by the World Series by Renault, the Moscow Raceway has quickly become one of the highlight weekends of the Fast, Free & Fun event. Several international championships have since followed the tendency in coming to Russia.

The Formula Renault 3.5 Series and Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 will share the billing with the Renault Sport Show and Jean Ragnotti Renault Classic Show demonstrations. The highlight of the weekend, Russian Daniil Kvyat, second in the 2012 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and now Formula 1 driver, will make his first appearance in the Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 Show in front of his fans.

In the paddock, several attractions will let spectators get a close look at the Renault range of cars as well as the other activity centers in the new Renault Village, including the driving simulators and the Pit Stop Challenge. Children will be able to play in the bouncy castles and have workshops at their disposal.

Formula Renault 3.5 Series: the mid-way point of the season

The Russian meeting of the World Series by Renault will mark the mid-way point of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series season. After seven rounds, Carlos Sainz (DAMS) dominates the championship thanks to four victories. The Spaniard has a 43-point lead from fellow Red Bull Junior Team member, Pierre Gasly (Arden Motorsport),

The defending Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion and also a race winner in Russia last year, the Frenchman still has a chance to earn an F1 test that will be awarded to the championship leader after this round. The test will be held two weeks later at the Nurburgring during the next meeting of the World Series by Renault. The second overall position of the Arden Motorsport driver is all the same under threat by English drivers Oliver Rowland (Fortec Motorsports) and Will Stevens (Strakka Racing).

Further back, the gap is already pronounced. Monaco winner, Norman Nato (DAMS) is tied with third place finisher in the Principality and at Spa-Francorchamps, Jazeman Jaafar (ISR). Both will try to get back in contention at the technical Moscow track. Also seen on the podium at the start of the season, Roberto Merhi (Zeta Corse), Marlon Stockinger (Lotus) and Marco Sorensen (Tech 1 Racing) want to standout.

Two Russian drivers will compete. Sergey Sirotkin (Fortec Motorsports) will want to bounce back following a series of four retirements. For his part, Roman Mavlanov will try to break into the top 10 at the wheel of a car from the Russian Zeta Corse team.

For the others, the goal will be to score big points, like Zoel Amberg (AVF), Luca Ghiotto (International Draco Racing), Matias Laine (Strakka Racing), Oscar Tunjo (Pons Racing), Meindert van Buuren (Pons Racing), Beitske Visser (AVF) and William Buller (Arden Motorsport), who made his Formula Renault 3.5 Series debut here last year.

Race 1: Saturday 28 June at 14h30
Course 2: Sunday 29 June at 14h30

Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0: de Vries and Bonifacio to try to pull away

With four winners in as many races, this category confirms its status as an extremely competitive open-wheel championship.

Heading to this Russian meeting, Nyck de Vries (Koiranen GP) and Bruno Bonifacio (Prema Powerteam) are tied for the lead in the championship. The two young men would like to continue their excellent starts to the season by pulling away from their rivals.

Dennis Olsen (Prema Powerteam) is their most serious threat. The Norwegian will try to keep the momentum going after taking his first open-wheel success last time out at Spa. Among the other contenders, Andrea Pizzitola (Manor MP Motorsport), Kevin Jörg (Josef Kaufmann Racing) and local driver Egor Orudzhev (Tech 1 Racing) want to stay in contact with the leaders.

Consistently in the top 5, Levin Amweg (ART Junior Team) will be looking to continue his strong form. Other drivers such as Alexander Albon (KTR), Anthoine Hubert (Tech 1 Racing), Aurélien Panis (ART Junior Team) and Callan O’Keeffe (ART Junior Team) hope to reach the next level in taking their first podium results of the season.

The meeting at the Moscow Raceway will be an opportunity to bounce back for several competitors. 2013 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC champion, Matt Parry (Fortec Motorsports) must get back in the race for the title, as does Ignazio D’Agosto (Koiranen GP) – on the podium last year – as well as Simon Gachet (ARTA Engineering) and Gustav Malja (Josef Kaufmann Racing), who both left Belgium pointless. Current leader in the North European Cup, Steijn Schothorst (Manor MP Motorsport) also wants to open his point tally at the circuit where he scored his only podium finish in 2013.

Race 1: Saturday 28 June at 12h55
Race 2: Sunday 29 June at 12h55

The Formula Renault 3.5 Series races will be aired live on Eurosport International, Eurosport UK as well as Eurosport France 2 on Saturday and on Eurosport France on Sunday. They can also be viewed live on the Eurosport Player, as will the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. Free of charge invitations can be downloaded on www.worldseriesbyrenault.com.

”Since the inauguration of the Moscow Raceway in 2012, the hospitality of the Russian public has been exceptional”, explains Renault Sport Technologies Director of Marketing and Communications, Régis Fricotté. ”Despite this being just its third year, it has already become a must do meeting, as much for the spectators as for the promotion of Renault. Russia is a country where carmakers must affirm their reputation and the World Series by Renault does this. We look forward to seeing this popular fervor and offer the fans a great show. "

The Driver’s Eye
Egor Orudzhev (Tech 1 Racing): ”The Moscow Raceway track is truly technical, most notably with its difficult sequence of corners. Such a meeting is very important. The World Series by Renault is progressively aiding Russian motor racing and its exposure but also its local drivers. The grandstands are full and major industrial names come out, which could play an enormous role in our futures.”

2013 Results
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Qualifying 1: S. Vandoorne (BEL) 1:20.283.
Race 1: 1. S. Vandoorne (BEL) – 2. A. F. da Costa (POR) – 3. N. Melker (NED)
Qualifying 2: S. Vandoorne (BEL) 1:20.025.
Race 2: 1. S. Vandoorne (BEL) – 2. K. Magnussen (DEN) – 3. W. Stevens (GBR)
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0
Qualifying 1: P. Gasly (FRA) 1:31.872.
Race 1: 1. P. Gasly (FRA) – 2. O. Rowland (GBR) – 3. S. Schothorst (NED)
Qualifying 2: E. Ocon (FRA) 131.451.
Race 2: 1. O. Rowland (GBR) – 2. E. Ocon (FRA) – 3. I. D’Agosto (ITA)

Timetable