Over the past nine years, around five million spectators have attended World Series by Renault meetings at 21 different circuits. In 2013 there is yet another new circuit on calendar: the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. The circuit has hosted Formula 1 grands prix in the past, and provides a magnificent venue for drivers and spectators alike.

The Infiniti Red Bull F1 Show will give the crowd a glimpse of F1’s world championship-winning car in action. And with current F1 driver and 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series runner-up Jean-Eric Vergne at the wheel, it is sure to be a spectacular show.

Other on-track entertainment comes from the ever-popular Renault Sport Show and Renault Classic Show, as well as the Red Bull Air Show and the two-wheel Red Bull Moto Stunt Show. The World Series by Renault will also host a round of the European Le Mans Series for the first time.

Both of the weekend’s Formula Renault 3.5 Series races will be shown live on Eurosport 2, with the entire meeting available to watch online via the Eurosport Player.

Formula Renault 3.5 Series: Da Costa sets sights on Vandoorne and Magnussen
With half of the season gone, two drivers are in control at the top of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series standings. Belgium’s Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports) leads with 136 points, while Kevin Magnussen (DAMS), his Danish rival and McLaren Driver Development Programme colleague, is second on 133.

Stoffel Vandoorne has been in superb form since June, racking up four victories in nine races, including a current run of three straight wins. The Belgian averages more than 15 points per race, and continues to grow in stature. But with six podiums in nine races, Kevin Magnussen is a consistent performer and remains an equally strong candidate for the title.

Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham), third, currently trails the championship leader by 47 points. The Red Bull Junior Team driver won at Monza and took two podiums at Spa-Francorchamps, but he has failed to score points three times and will need a strong run of results if he is to close the gap.

Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing), Nico Müller (International Draco Racing), Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing) and Arthur Pic (AV Formula) have all been solid so far. Like Da Costa, they will all be hoping to make an impression and show their potential in the second half of the season.

A famously fast circuit, the Red Bull Ring will allow the drivers to feel the full force of the Formula Renault 3.5. Sergey Sirotkin (ISR), Marco Sorensen (Lotus), Carlos Huertas (Carlin), Andre Negrao (International Draco Racing), Christopher Zanella (ISR), Oliver Webb (Fortec Motorsports), Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin) and Norman Nato (DAMS) are all way off the pace in the championship, but will nonetheless be determined to make an impact.

Race 1: Saturday 20 July, 14:30 (local time)
Race 2: Sunday 21 July, 14:30 (local time)

Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0: Familiar territory for FR 2.0 drivers
Back in April, the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 drivers completed two days of collective testing at the Red Bull Ring. The four sessions produced fastest times by four different drivers: Steijn Schothorst (Josef Kaufmann Racing), Nyck de Vries (Koiranen GP), Pierre Gasly (Tech 1 Racing) and Jake Dennis (Fortec Motorsports).

The first six races of the season have been hard-fought – but so far none of the title favourites has taken a firm grip on the championship. Matthieu Vaxivière (Tech 1 Racing) dominated at Motorland Aragon and Pierre Gasly scored the most points at Spa-Francorchamps, while Oliver Rowland (Manor MP Motorsport) was the best performer at Moscow Raceway.

The trio will be out to secure maximum points in Austria. But so too will Esteban Ocon (ART Junior Team), Oscar Tunjo (Josef Kaufmann Racing), Jake Dennis, Luca Ghiotto (Prema Powerteam), Egor Orudzhev (Tech 1 Racing) and Bruno Bonifacio (Prema Powerteam). Caterham Racing Academy driver Aurelien Panis, meanwhile, recently joined Prema Powerteam and will be hoping to make a positive start.

The first qualifying session will take place on Friday 19 July at the unusual time of 18:35 to 19:10 (local time). This will make collective testing on Friday all the more important.

Race 1: Saturday 20 July, 12:05 (local time)
Race 2: Sunday 21 July, 16:10 (local time)

Eurocup Megane Trophy: Bortolotti versus Verschuur versus the rest
With four wins and five podiums in six races, Mirko Bortolotti (Oregon Team 2) is the new star of the Eurocup Megane Trophy. The Italian holds a comfortable 46-point lead over second-placed Mike Verschuur (McGregor by Equipe Verschuur). The Dutchman, however, will be determined to win in Austria and reduce the gap before the summer break.

Five other drivers besides Bortolotti and Veschuur have finished on the podium this season. Kelvin Snoeks (Oregon Team 3), Erik Janis (Gravity Charouz), Kevin Gilardoni (Oregon Team 2) and Max Braams (Las Moras by Equipe Verschuur) will all need to raise their game if they are to challenge the Eurocup Megane Trophy’s current leading pair.

Race 1: Saturday 20 July, 13:15 (local time)
Race 2: Sunday 21 July, 12:50 (local time)

Eurocup Clio: Nicolas Milan out to maintain winning run
Following meetings at Imola and Spa-Francorchamps, the Eurocup Clio heads to Austria for the third round of the season. Josh Files (Team Pyro) and Massimiliano Pedala (Composit Motorsport) dominated the season opener in Italy, but Nicolas Milan (Team LMV CL Brakes) hit back in Belgium by twice winning from Eric Tremoulet (Vic’Team). Files, Pedala and Milan have virtually monopolised the podium places in the two meetings so far, although Denmark’s Thomas Fjorbach (Polar Seafood Racing) did manage a third-place finish at Imola.

With the new Clio Cup’s turbo engine, and a 32-strong field of drivers, the race action at the Red Bull Ring promises to be as spectacular as ever.

For Croatian drivers Ivan Pulic and Nikola Belohradski (both Lema Racing Team), and Switzerland’s Fabian Danz (Jenzer Motorsport) and Christian Jaquillard (Lugano Racing Team), the Austrian round provides an opportunity to race relatively close to home.

The only practice session of the weekend is scheduled for Saturday morning, with both races taking place on Sunday.

Race 1: Sunday 21 July, 10:50 (local time)
Race 2: Sunday 21 July, 17:35 (local time)

Timetable