Paul Ricard
The French leg of the 2012 World Series by Renault, held this coming weekend at Paul Ricard, is not to be missed. Quite apart from the usual WSR action - with no shortage of suspense in store in Formula Renault 3.5 Series, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Eurocup Megane Trophy and Eurocup Clio - there is also a whole host of other events taking place, with Formula One and the sport of rugby firmly in the spotlight. Formula One drivers Romain Grosjean, Jerome d’Ambrosio and Jean-Eric Vergne will all be in action alongside a very special guest in the shape of Alain Prost. Not to be outdone, the French Air Force will be taking to the skies above Paul Ricard to stage a typically colourful acrobatic display.
For the second year running the French round of the World Series by Renault will take place at Paul Ricard, where Renault Sport Technologies will once again be putting its know-how to good use in staging a festival of motorsport, fun and games for all the family, and all free of charge.
Thanks to its partnership with France’s national rugby team, Renault will bring motorsport and the oval ball together at its very own rugby village. Specially designed for beginners, it will host beach rugby tournaments for 11-year-olds and under on the Saturday and 13s and under on the Sunday. There will also be prizes up for grabs thanks to Play Rugby, while race-goers can show off their skills in the scrum thanks to the Baby Scrum, under the watchful eyes of France coach Philippe Saint Andre and leading players Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson and Frederic Michalak, who all run out for Toulon (RCT).
Also on show will be the entire Renault and Dacia ranges, the Dezir and R-Space concept cars, Renault’s range of electric cars and its vintage cars. The new Renault Clio and the all-electric Zoe city car will also be unveiled for the first time, as will the Dacia Dokker, in both its utility and MPV versions. Road safety will be a core feature of the event too, with entertaining preventive driving shows being laid on by Renault in partnership with the French School of Driving.
Following its creation in 2005, more than 4,500,000 World Series by Renault fans have been thrilled by specially staged Formula One demo drives. And this year there will be not one but two Formula One shows for spectators to enjoy at Paul Ricard, one laid on by Red Bull Racing and the other by the Lotus Formula One Team. Turning out for Lotus will be Romain Grosjean and Jerome d’Ambrosio, who will be swapping seats in the R30 and the legendary Lotus Renault 98T once driven by Ayrton Senna. The Williams Renault FW14 that took Nigel Mansell to the 1992 world title will also be put through its paces.
Meanwhile, reigning Formula One world champions Red Bull Racing have a real treat in store for WSR diehards. On the Saturday Jean-Eric Vergne will take to the wheel of the RB6 at the track where he won a Formula Renault 3.5 Series race last season. Then on Sunday, the great Alain Prost will take control of the 2010 world champion car, with the four-time Formula One world champion returning to Paul Ricard 12 months on from entertaining the crowds in the Renault RE40.
Finally, the French Air Force will light up the southern French skies with a dazzling acrobatic show in their Extra 300 jets. Continuing the aerial theme, spectators will also have the chance to take a helicopter ride over the circuit, just one of the many surprises awaiting fans at Paul Ricard this weekend. And that’s not all. Thanks to a partnership deal with Haribo, more than 80,000 bags of sweets will be handed out at strategic points of the World Series by Renault paddock.
Official Renault Sport Press Release.