EU 2000: 2006 pre-season notes

Overview of the 2006 season

Having attracted more than 700,000 spectators to tracks around Europe in 2005, the first World Series by Renault season has been a resounding success with the fans. In 2006, the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 will be sticking to the recipe which has made it such a success in the past. There will however be some slight changes: for instance, next season there will only be one qualifying session.

The selection of competitors

The 2006 Eurocup will be open to a maximum of 35 drivers. Teams may enter up to three cars before December 31, 2005. Additional drivers may take part in Eurocup meetings on an ad-hoc basis (up to a maximum of three), but they will not score any championship points.

Race calendar

Seven "World Series by Renault" meetings are scheduled (Belgium, Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, United Kingdom and Germany).

Private testing

Teams may carry out private testing until December 31, 2005. After this date, testing will then be forbidden for drivers entered in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 championship, outside of the sessions organized by Renault Sport. Participation in these sessions shall, however, be mandatory.

Testing in any kind of single-seater is forbidden on the circuits featured on the 2006 race calendar for those drivers and teams entered in the Eurocup 2006.

Eurocup drivers will be allowed to take part in only one national Formula Renault 2.0 championship. They must give priority to the Eurocup and shall not be allowed to take part in the national championship's joint practice sessions. Five two-day practice sessions will be organized from mid-February onwards: HTTT Paul Ricard, France, Italy, Germany and Belgium.

Joint practice sessions will be organized on the Thursday prior to the meetings in Belgium, Turkey, Spain and the UK.

Meeting format

- Friday: two 30-minute free practice sessions
- Saturday: 40-minute qualifying session (8 laps per driver) and a 25-minute race.
- Sunday: 25-minute race, with start grid decided on the basis of the fastest laps from race 1

Tyres

Each driver will have a set of new tyres for the free practice sessions (Friday) and then two further sets for qualifying and the races.

Prizes

A total of 270,000^a of prize money will be available over the course of the season:
70,000^a over the 14 races
200,000^a to the winner of the Eurocup, to go towards the cost of entering the 2007 World Series

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