In ten seasons, more than five million spectators have attended the World Series by Renault. For this fourth French edition at the Paul Ricard Circuit, the spectators will once again be delighted by the exceptional programme that has been created just for them.

The once home of the French Formula 1 Grand Prix, but renovated in the early 2000 years, this fluid, fast and technical track has always figured as a proper test in the final rounds of the international championship organized by Renault Sport Technologies. They will be joined by the French Renault Clio Cup that will conclude its season in the Var department!

Alongside the Renault Classic Show and Renault Sport Show, David Coulthard will take to the track in the Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 Show!

Formula Renault 3.5 Series: the turning point in the championship?
After having a strong lead in the championship, Carlos Sainz (DAMS) has seen Roberto Merhi (Zeta Corse) catch right up. The gap is now just 16 points and while the two drivers have yet to battle one another directly on the track, the fight between the two Spaniards could intensify at the Paul Ricard Circuit. Who will have the psychological and points advantage at the start of the season finale at Jerez?

Championship outsider Pierre Gasly (Arden Motorsport) will have home track advantage and, more than ever before, aim for his maiden victory to keep his title hopes alive. The French driver won in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 here last year. His former rival, Oliver Rowland (Fortec Motorsports), will try to get the better of Pierre Gasly after finishing behind the Frenchman twice at the Hungaroring.

Returning to the top five in the general classification after the preceding round, Will Stevens (Strakka Racing) will have his work cut out to hold his current position against Sergey Sirotkin (Fortec Motorsports) and Norman Nato (DAMS). While the Frenchman hopes to continue the momentum that took him to the win last week, the Sauber F1 Team reserve driver wants to bounce back following a non-points scoring weekend in Hungary.

For the others, the race for the title is already over! Zoel Amberg (AVF) and Marlon Stockinger (Lotus) must, however, respond to keep their positions after a disappointing meeting. They will be up against Jazeman Jaafar (ISR), Matthieu Vaxiviere (Lotus) and Marco Sørensen (Tech 1 Racing), all of whom entered the top 10 in Budapest.

Pole winner at the Paul Ricard Circuit last year, Luca Ghiotto (International Draco Racing) would like to create a surprise to move up the general classification, as would team-mate Pietro Fantin, Matias Laine (Strakka Racing) and Beitske Visser (AVF). As for William Buller (Arden Motorsport) and Oscar Tunjo (Pons Racing), they will want to build upon their strong qualifying performances, just like Meindert van Buuren (Pons Racing), who had his best race of the year with a fifth place result last Sunday. After scoring points in his maiden race, Esteban Ocon (Comtec Racing) returns to the venue where he won his first race in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. And finally, Nicholas Latifi (Tech 1 Racing) and Cameron Twynham (Comtec Racing) will be looking to pick up their first points of the season.

Race 1: Saturday 27 September at 13h00
Race 2: Sunday 28 September at 13h00

Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0: Nyck de Vries will aim for the title
In accentuating his lead in the general classification despite not winning, Nyck de Vries (Koiranen GP) did the business in Budapest. With 46 more points than Dennis Olsen (Prema Powerteam), the member of the McLaren Young Driver Development Programme could take a big step towards the title at the French round of the World Series by Renault.

An opportunity that will have to face the ambitions of Dennis Olsen and Andrea Pizzitola (Manor MP Motorsports). The two other two-time winners this year will be out to change the trend, especially the French driver who will race on his home circuit and who won last week.

Consistent point scorer, Alexander Albon (KTR) will try to take it to the next level in picking up his maiden win in the European category. The Thai native is currently fourth overall ahead of Bruno Bonifacio (Prema Powerteam), who was back in the points in Hungary after two non-point scoring meetings.

The top five are still under threat from a group of drivers led by Ignazio D’Agosto (Koiranen GP). After a difficult start to the season, the Italian driver claimed his second podium finish in Hungary. He is now ahead of Kevin Jörg (Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Jack Aitken (Fortec Motorsports), who is on form following his first triumph. The battle for the other spots in the top ten will also be worth keeping an eye on with just a few points separating Egor Orudzhev (Tech 1 Racing), Aurélien Panis (ART Junior Team) and Matt Parry (Fortec Motorsports).

Twice in the points at the Hungaroring, Gustav Malja (Josef Kaufmann Racing) will try for his first podium finish, as will Callan O’Keeffe with his new KTR team, Hans Villemi (Prema Powerteam), Nick Cassidy (Koiranen GP) and Anthoine Hubert (Tech 1 Racing). All will be part of a field that will include Louis Delétraz (AVF), who completed his campaign in the NEC with the runner-up spot in the championship last weekend, among the wild-card entries.

Race 1: Saturday 27 September at 16h05
Race 2: Sunday 28 September at14h30

Eurocup Clio: the stakes in the return to competition
The Eurocup Clio makes its return to competition at the Paul Ricard Circuit. Leader in the general classification since the start of the season, Oscar Nogues (Rangoni Corse) could add to his lead. Winner in France last year, the Catalan native will hope to continue the form that saw him to three victories in four races, as well as the lead in the Italian Clio Cup.

His closest rival, Massimiliano Pedalà (Composit Motorsport) will aim to lower the 27-point gap that separates him from Nogues. The reigning Eurocup Clio runner-up will share this mission with Éric Trémoulet (Vic’Team), who will try for his maiden European success while also defending his title in the French Clio Cup. Consistent front-runner, Mikel Azcona (Automovil Club Zaragoza) also hopes to reverse the trend.

There will be many challengers at the Castellet track with the runner-up in the Clio Cup UK, Alex Morgan (Rangoni Corse), as well as Facundo Della Motta (Pujolaracing), who took his maiden European podium result at the Nürburgring. There will be plenty of others to watch, such as Composit Motorsport entries of Luciano Gioia and Ronnie Marchetti, Pablo Martin (SMC Junior Motorsport), Renee Steenmetz (Pujolaracing), Ivan Pulić and Filip Romic (Lema Racing Team), or Aldo Ponti, joining Salvatore Arcarese and Oscar Nogues at Rangoni Corse.

Race 1: Saturday 27 September at 17h25
Race 2: Sunday 28 September à 16h00

The Formula Renault 3.5 Series races will be aired live on Eurosport International, Eurosport 2 France and Eurosport UK. The Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 will be broadcast on a delayed basis on Eurosport 2. The Eurocup Clio will be shown live on Saturday and on a delayed basis on Sunday on Motors TV. All the races will be available live and in full on the Eurosport Player. Free of charge invitations can be downloaded on www.worldseriesbyrenault.com.

“We are thrilled to return to the Paul Ricard Circuit for the fourth consecutive year“, says Patrice Ratti, President of Renault Sport Technologies. “For ten seasons, the French public has shown us each year its affinity for motor racing, and its enthusiasm has overwhelmed us! The atmosphere in the grandstands is fantastic, the beautiful setting and our championships that are as competitive as ever. The numerous attractions for all ages punctuate the weekend. Our involvement in competition is infallible and the future is already here!”

The Driver’s Eye
Norman Nato (DAMS): “After my victory at the Hungaroring, I am motivated more than ever for the weekend at the Paul Ricard Circuit. It is my home round, and there is always a particular atmosphere because I am from the region! I race for a French team and I have support from the FFSA, but the pressure remains the same. We always try to do our best, to attack and to control, no matter the circuit! My season has been a little disappointing until now, despite my wins in Monaco and Budapest, that isn’t enough for me! We had good pace at Castellet last year. I hope I can fight for a podium spot or the win!”

Results 2013
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Qualifying 1: K. Magnussen (DEN) 1’46’’797.
Race 1: 1. A. Félix da Costa (POR) – 2. S. Vandoorne (BEL) – 3. A. Negrão (BRA)
Qualifying 2: K. Magnussen (DEN) 1’48’’042.
Race 2: 1. K. Magnussen (DEN) – 2. N. Müller (SUI) – 3. A. Félix da Costa (POR)
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0
Qualifying 1: P. Gasly (FRA) 2’04’’097.
Race 1: 1. P. Gasly (FRA) – 2. L. Ghiotto (ITA) – 3. N. de Vries (NED)
Qualifying 2: L. Ghiotto (ITA) 2’04’’480.
Race 2: 1. E. Ocon (FRA) – 2. J. Dennis (GBR) – 3. O. Rowland (GBR)
Eurocup Clio
Qualifying 1: E. Trémoulet (FRA) 2’28’’545.
Race 1: 1. O. Nogues (ESP) – 2. J. Files (GBR) – 3. M. Pedalà (ITA)
Qualifying 2: O. Nogues (ESP) 2’29’’093.
Race 2: 1. N. Milan (FRA) – 2. E. Trémoulet (FRA) – 3. T. Fjordbach (DEN)