Back to school in Budapest

The closing stretch of the 2013 World Series by Renault season starts next weekend in Hungary. An essential fixture on Renault Sport’s Fast, Free and Fun calendar, the Hungaroring is set to welcome the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Eurocup Megane Trophy for the seventh year running, with a host of other attractions also on the card, including the latest round of the European Le Mans Series.

One of the high points of the World Series by Renault season, the Hungarian meeting is hugely popular with fans and presents a stiff technical challenge for drivers in all three categories. Now an essential component of the Formula One circuit, the Budapest track has been hosting the Hungarian Grand Prix since 1986 and gives WSR’s young guns a taste of what is expected at the highest rung of the motorsport ladder.

WSR’s Hungarian leg is an ongoing success story and last year’s meeting attracted no fewer than 100,000 spectators, who were treated to some thrilling races that went a long way to deciding where the silverware went at the end of the season. The 2013 meet looks like being no exception, and with Sebastien Buemi also at the wheel in the Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 Show, it promises to be quite a weekend.

In addition to the Renault Classic Show and Renault Sport Show, Renault Trucks will be serving up its own unique brand of entertainment at the Hungaroring, while there is a free world of fun waiting for fans at the Renault Village. From the Time Tunnel and the Michelin and Renault simulators to the Pit Stop Challenge, there will be plenty to keep them busy. And just as it did in Austria, the World Series by Renault will play host to another round of the European Le Mans Series.

Both Formula Renault 3.5 Series races will be broadcast live on Eurosport International and Eurosport 2, while the whole meeting will be shown online on the Eurosport Player.

Formula Renault 3.5 Series: Magnussen looking to consolidate

Stoffel Vandoorne’s (Fortec Motorsports) pointless weekend at the Red Bull Ring allowed his McLaren Driver Development Programme colleague Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) to move back into the championship lead. Now 27 points clear of his Belgian rival, the Dane has the chance to ram home his advantage on a track where he let victory slip on the final lap of race one last year.

Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) has climbed up to third thanks to a run of five consecutive races in the points. Returning to the scene of his maiden Formula Renault 3.5 Series podium finish, the Caterham F1 Team protégé will be looking to build on his impressively consistent form.

Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing) and Antonio Felix da Costa (Arden Caterham) are also intent on catching the eye. The Dutchman can point to four top-three finishes in the last six races as he continues his search for his first victory, while the Portuguese has hopes of making his mark again at the circuit where he began his stunning late-season charge in 2012.

After his superb double at the Red Bull Ring, Marco Sorensen (Lotus) will be out to continue his surge up the standings and close up on the top five. And after passing up presentable opportunities in the last few meetings, Nico Muller (International Draco Racing), Arthur Pic (AV Formula) and Sergey Sirotkin (ISR) will be giving it all they have got to join the leaders.

On a winding track where DRS strategy will prove crucial, William Buller (Zeta Corse) has the chance to confirm the progress he has been making with his Italian employers, this time in the company of the returning Carlos Sainz Jr (Zeta Corse), who was sixth in Monaco. Three other drivers who could also figure large in Hungary are Carlos Huertas (Carlin), Christopher Zanella (ISR) and Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin).

Race 1: Saturday 14 September, 14:15
Race 2: Sunday 15 September, 13:00

World Series by Renault