The 2016 Formula V8 3.5 Series was a multi-event motor racing championship for open wheel, formula racing cars held across Europe. The championship features drivers competing in Formula V8 3.5 formula race cars that conform to the technical regulations for the championship. The 2016 season is the first Formula V8 3.5 season organised independently by , after it was announced that Renault Sport would withdraw its backing of the championship at the end of the previous season.[1]
The title was won by Tom Dillmann, after winning at Budapest, and at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. After take two victories of the season, Louis Deletraz became runner-up, and Egor Orudzhev became teenager after take most 5 victories of the season. Israelian driver Roy Nissany take 3 victories after hat-trick at Silverstone, and Monza. Matthieu Vaxivière and Aurelien Panis take two victories of the season. Rene Binder and Yu Kanamaru finished seventh and eight at the championship, with scoring no wins. Vaxiviere's SMP Racing team-mate Matevos Isaakyan take victory at the first race at Jerez, replacing injured Vladimir Atoev, and finished in ninth place at the championship. The top 10 was ended by Pietro Fittipaldi, who finished at the podium on the final race of the season.
Beitske Visser, who raced for AVF for two consecutive seasons was set to join Pons Racing, but following their withdrawal from the series, she signed with Teo Martín Motorsport.[24]
Jazeman Jaafar, who finished eighth for Fortec Motorsports in 2015, will race in both the Blancpain Sprint Series and Blancpain Endurance Series with HTP Motorsport.[30]
Buller was replaced by Jack Aitken at RP Motorsport at the final two rounds at Jerez and Barcelona.[18]
Team changes[]
After five seasons in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series (the 2005 season and from 2012 to 2015), DAMS will leave the championship to join the GP3 Series.[35] The team's entry will be taken by International GT Open team Teo Martín Motorsport.[22]
Swiss team Spirit of Race will make its debut in 2016, taking the slot vacated by International Draco Racing.[36] It was announced in February 2016 that the team would be operated by the SMP Racing concern under a Russian license.[20]
Pons Racing withdrew from the championship to focus on their Moto2 commitments.[11]
Race calendar[]
The provisional calendar for the 2016 season was announced on 17 October 2015, at the final round of the 2015 season.[38] The championship returns to Paul Ricard, Monza and Barcelona. Rounds previously held at Monaco, Nürburgring and Le Mans Bugatti were removed from the schedule.
On 8 March 2016, it was announced that due to operational reasons, the final two rounds of the season would switch dates. The event at Jerez will become the penultimate round with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosting the final round.[39]
^Costa, Massimo (16 October 2015). "Renault 3.5 a Jerez Spirit of Race subentra a Draco" [Renault 3.5 at Jerez Spirit of Race takes over from Draco]. ItaliaRacing.net (in Italian). Inpagina. Retrieved 17 October 2015.