Renault World Series Weekend

[danposs86]

Firstly, this I just want to say this was the first proper motorsport track event I have been to with professional drivers (sorry sTrig, you don't get paid to drive ). Anyways, i LOVED it....

 

Granted most cars were moving fast I did have difficulties taking photos at some times (if you know me, then you will know how upset by this I would be haha). The first thing that really surprised me were how many mistakes were made, but more of that later.

 

Me and my brother Matt (matthewp1992) arrived just before midday on the Saturday (was a 2 1/2 hour drive, didn’t want to set off that early lol). However I didn't miss much, just a couple of parade laps and a bit of qualifying. First action we saw were the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 qualifying (fast, but no 2 litre Escort!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bit of an audio treat followed as the 2006 (in 2007 livery) F1 car took to the track. Here’s some photos and a video.

 

 

 

Renault F1 car drive by

 

Hell, let’s push the boat out, have another video.

 

And again

 

The thirds the charm...

 

Practice start this time

 

 

 

Some parade laps from Owners clubs (never took many photos of the crappy, chavy generic owners club followed, but did get some of some Alpine's and some Deloreans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then came the first race of the day, the 3.5 V6 350bhp (iirc) World Series cars. Well, having seen them on the warm up lap they looked fast and also loud. We were stood on the outside of the Old Hairpin looking up Craner Curves. Anyway, first lap and they set off coming down towards us looking very magnificent, well until a few decided they preferred the gravel to the track. Here’s a video, sorry about the angle, tilt your heads

 

Start of the World Series race

 

 

 

 

 

 

^^^ Some shouting happened just before this photo haha

 

Needless to say, the drivers weren't too happy about being off so soon, but the race continued after a short stint under the safety car.

 

 

 

 

[danposs86]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then one went off into the tyre wall just after the Old Hairpin...

 

 

 

...luckily the race organisers decided the car was out of the way so no need for a safety car. Well, until another car went off at the same place, hit the same part of the tyre wall then bounced into the crashed car. Mmmm, hind sight. Safety car!!

 

 

 

 

This geeza won btw.

 

 

 

Time for a quick clean up...

 

 

 

...then a few Historic cars.

 

 

 

 

 

Following this were the specially made, tubular shelled Megane Trophy cars with a similar 3.5 litre engine to the World Series cars. Here’s a few photos of them going round the track before taking up position on the grid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just before the race actual started, a mysterious character came from the crowds!!

 

 

Once we had been greeted the latest member of the Evo Staff, we turned our attention to the race.

 

 

 

Here’s a video of the start, keep an eye out for flying bonnets!!

 

Megane Trophy Race 1

 

 

[danposs86]

 

 

^^ Engine problems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kept seeing random people walking around with used Tyres, what ever floats there boat I suppose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the final lap, a few cars, including the leader, shuddered to a stop after tunning out of fuel due to calculation error lol.

 

 

 

Once that was all done with, it was time for the Eurocup Formula 2.0s to have their first race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rather uneventful, but entertaining none the less.

 

Ending day two were the cheeky chappies in the Clio Cup having a couple of qualifying races (I am now towards the first corner as it was closer to where I parked.

 

 

 

 

 

[danposs86]

 

 

 

 

 

That pretty much ended the first day, time for a nap in Nottingham so I am ready for the days racing in the morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAY TWO

 

 

After finding a cheeky road to miss out all the traffic we managed to get straight in, didn't go below 30mph haha, almost feel sorry for the fools that queued up for close to 2 hours when it took me 10mins

 

First up was the National Formula Renault 2.0, there was a crash, out of my sight though!

 

 

 

 

^^ He was one of the guys involved in the crash, walking back to the pits, bless lol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^^ He won, he seems rather happy

 

 

 

Next up, the most eventful race of the weekend, with not one, but two crashes after the start/restart. Eurocup 2.0s again btw.

 

Video of the first smash.

 

And the aftermath...

 

 

 

 

 

Another crash on the other side of the track ment a restart was needed.

 

Now, I am gutted that I decided to take photos of the restart rather than a video, luckily I managed to capture what happened, just wish it was video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was all on the chicane towards the Old Hairpin

 

I was happy

 

 

Anyway, time for another restart, well after they cleaned up (took fecking ages haha!)

 

 

 

[danposs86]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then food came, WAHOOO!!!! :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^^ He's lost a wing :O

 

 

National Clio Cup Championship race next...

 

A few bumps and lost bodywork, but all tegether a cracking little race series, great to see them live after watching them on tv for a fair while.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[danposs86]

Right, as I now can't be bothered to go into the rest of the races as not much happened, I will leave you some photos (yes more )

 

They include the World Series cars, Meganes and historic cars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also got quite a cool video of this chap RIGHT HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thats it, just a couple of photos of the crowd, to show you it was a popular day, not really a suprise, tickets were free lol.

 

 

 

 

As always, there are more photos (believe it or not), feel free to browse my shows photo bucket album:

 

http://s55.photobucket.com/albums/g132/sho...tWorldSeries07/

 

 

Now, in the event of photos not displaying, I may have used up my photobucket bandwidth limit, its still recovering from Ford Fair's photos. :P

 

 

Anyone else go???

[reid]

wow, some awesome pics dan.

 

these badboys look proper mental..

 

could be doing with being lowered tho.

[Joe]

Looked an awesome day, shame i didn't go, too many pics

[M4TT]

Great Pics Dan, what camera is that your using and lenses??

 

We went on Sunday and was in the traffic, but wasa good day as it was our first major trip in hot weather, in traffic with Korben, we had an hour up the top end, not very pushchair friendly but had a good time

[danposs86]

I was using a Fujifilm S5600, all taken on auto setting, ISO around 200/400 and some had chrome colour, some didn't. Couldn't be arsed with manual setting this weekend lol. Dead cheap little camera

[M4TT]

Cool was looking at the 5600 or the 5900 for xmas, to make that step up from my 3500, great results you got there.

[matthewp1992]

was a great day really enjoyed it and the sound that came out of the F1 car was unbelievable.

 

too many pics

 

and believe it or not he had to delete some to make way for more picture

[K518CAR]

i work for renault selling parts, those smalle formula renault cars have the same engine as 2.0 16 valve clios AKA 172, 182 197s

awesome cars them. I did not get to this world series as it was my other halfs 21st oh well look good.

[Kirsty]

some wicked pics dan

[McRic]

some superb pics there, did you zoom on the cars to get them so close or did you crop the pictures to bring em closer? Reason I ask is when I take track side shots as soon as I try to zoom I lose all focus of the picture and things get blurry! Any tips?