In just under a month the drivers in the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup will line up for the first race of the year. The second season’s kick-off will take place where the Formula Renault WEC first saw the light of day – Nogaro! The FR 2.0 WEC will be part of major meetings like the World Series by Renault, the WTCC and the FFSA Super Series. During the course of the season the teams will go from Nogaro to Portimao by way of Barcelona, Pau, Magny-Cours, Valencia and Spa-Francorchamps.

The mythic Belgian circuit will replace the Dijon-Prenois round on the 2009 calendar. The drivers in the Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup will attempt to tame the awesome Spa-Francorchamps layout in early June, so the weather should be better than last year!

The Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup Organisation Committee has made a point of keeping to the high-quality standards that have ensured the success of this championship. Thus, the FR 2.0 WEC will run only on circuits homologated by the FIA, and technical checks complying with Renault Sport Technologies rigorous standards will be carried out. ORECA is looking after the engine back-up at the majority of the events, and a single clerk of the course has been nominated for the whole season. Everything has been arranged to provide a level playing field from both a technical and sporting point of view.

Entrywise, three of the main Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 teams have already committed themselves: SG Formula, Epsilon Euskadi and Fortec Motorsport. The battle for victory looks like being a hard-fought one. Jean-Eric Vergne (SG Formula) and Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi), who were among last year’s front-runners in the FR 2.0 WEC, are the hot favourites. But they will have their work cut out to fend off rivals like Miki Monras (SG Formula) Miguel Otegui (Epsilon Euskadi), Julien Abelli (SG Formula), Nathanae?l Berthon (Epsilon Euskadi), Ramez Azzam (SG Formula) and Carlos Munos (Epsilon Euskadi) who already have some experience of this championship.

The rookies will also be out to fight at the front. Arthur Pic (SG Formula), winner of the 2008 Formul’Academy Euroseries, Dominic Storey (SG Formula), Hugo Valente (SG Formula) and Kevin Breysse (SG Formula) learn quickly and will soon be outright victory contenders. In addition, all the French drivers will compete for the FFSA Formula Renault 2.0 Championship with Jean-Eric Vergne defending his 2008 title.

Pole Services, winner of a race last season, has also entered Benjamin Lariche and a driver to be announced. English team, Fortec Motorsport, should finalise its entry and drivers in the next few weeks. Other teams like Hill Speed and lquick Valencia will take part in selected rounds. The final on the Portimao circuit will be an event not to be missed: it will be a kind of “Winter Cup.”

2009 Calendar
10th – 13th April: Nogaro – FFSA Super Series - France
17th – 19th April: Barcelona - World Series by Renault - Spain
15th – 17th May: Pau – World Touring Car Championship - France
29th – 31st May: Magny-Cours – FFSA Super Series - France
5th – 7th June: Spa-Francorchamps – 12h00 BTCS - Belgium
11th – 13th September: Valencia – Spain
6th – 8th November: Portimao – Portugal

2009 Collective tests:
7th – 8th April: Nogaro
27th – 28th May: Magny-Cours
+ 2 days in Valencia to be announced.

2009 Entry list