8/24/2007

Record Year Prompts Revised Registration Format

A record-breaking season for the Formula Renault BARC Championship has ushered in a change to the process of registering for the 2008 season. A total of 43 registrations were received prior to the 2007 championship, a record in the three seasons since Renault Sport UK gave its backing to the now-thriving single-seater series.

The championship consists of two classes, the largest being FR2000 Class for 2004-2006-specification FR2.0 cars, which is packed with talented young drivers taking their first step on the car racing ladder. The Formula Renault UK Championship is the natural progression, as seen with the 2006 Formula Renault BARC champion Richard Singleton (Conwy). The Club Class has this season attracted 14 drivers in pre-2000 Formula Renault cars compared with 29 drivers in FR2000 Class.

To ensure all registered drivers can compete in the maximum possible number of races in 2008, 26 spaces are allocated to FR2000 Class drivers with 10 allocated to Club Class. These spaces are reserved until the closing date for entries, Friday, 15th February. After this date, drivers can enter either class until the total number of registrations reaches 36.

The change has been introduced with consideration given to the track licence of the UK circuits visited by the 12-round championship. At circuits where the number of permitted starters is less than 36, all cars entered for the individual round are able to qualify with the slowest drivers becoming reserves for the race.

All entries for race meetings will continue to be processed by the BARC.

Commenting on the new registration system, Championship Manager Simon North said: “We have been delighted to see so many drivers wishing to compete in 2007 but a late flood of entries resulted in more drivers than the championship can comfortably support. In this way, the championship has been a victim of its own success with young drivers recognising its value as a training ground in sophisticated single-seater cars.

“With this in mind we have chosen to place an overall limit on the number of entries, while maintaining a strong proportion of spaces for the Club Class racers who have always supported the series and are a valuable part of the paddock.”

The championship will run to a revised format in 2009 with only FR2000 Class cars eligible to compete, making 2008 the last year that Club Class cars will race in the championship.