Renault Sport
Renault and Jerez de la Frontera City Council have signed an agreement that will see the Jerez racetrack host a World Series by Renault meeting next season. The race weekend will be WSR’s first visit to Andalusia since the series came into being in 2005.
THE FINAL RUNG BEFORE FORMULA ONE
An appealing blend of races and entertainment on and off the track at some of the world’s most prestigious circuits, the World Series by Renault has pulled in more than five million spectators since its creation eight years ago.
WSR provides a stage for the single-seater Formula Renault 3.5 Series and the Eurocup Formula Formula 2.0 and also features saloon racing in the shape of the Eurocup Megane Trophy and Eurocup Clio. Also figuring on the WSR programme are national competitions, demonstration events such as Renault Classic Show and a whole host of activities and attractions for all the family to enjoy.
The brainchild of Renault Sport Technologies, the driver development series has established itself over the years as the gateway to Formula One. Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen, who between them have won five of the last six world titles in the biggest show in motorsport, have all seen their talent blossom in Renault’s colours, as have many other drivers currently gracing F1.
A FIRST IN ANDALUSIA
The World Series by Renault has been coming to Spain every year since 2005, with Catalunya, Motorland Aragon, Valencia and Bilbao’s street circuit all hosting meetings. Jerez, the scene of many a great Formula One race over the years, will add its name to that list next year as WSR heads to Andalusia for the very first time.
Jerez joins the 2014 roster thanks to an agreement signed by the Mayor of Jerez de la Frontera Maria Jose Garcia Pelayo, Renault Sport Technologies CEO Patrice Ratti, Renault España’s Head of Communications Jesus Presa, and RPM Racing President Jaime Alguersuari.
Jerez’s appearance on the calendar makes perfect sense, with Renault enjoying a significant presence in Andalusia in both commercial and industrial terms. Since 1966 the company has been operating a gearbox factory in Seville employing more than 1,000 people and producing more than a million cars a year. The plant exports 80 percent of its output to a number of factories in the Renault-Nissan Alliance on four continents.
What they said:
Patrice Ratti: “We are delighted to have set the seal on this partnership with the city of Jerez. It is a track with a special place in the history of motorsport, and we will use all the know-how we have acquired over the last ten years to make the World Series by Renault meeting at Jerez an event not to be missed.”
Jesus Presa: “The arrival of the World Series by Renault in Andalusia is great news for Renault España. We are very proud of this development, especially for the gearbox factory in Seville, which employs more than 1,000 people.”
Maria Jose Garcia Pelayo: “An important event like this is a big occasion for Jerez and gives us the chance to show what infrastructures we have to offer and the quality of our services. We are expecting around 50,000 visitors and 6,000 overnight stays in the city’s hotels.”
Jaime Alguersuari: “The World Series by Renault is the biggest family-oriented motorsport show in the world. More than five million people have come to watch it since 2005, and last year 76 million TV viewers watched our programmes.”
Official Renault Sport Press Release.