British Formula Renault is racing series in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom has two Formula Renault championships: Renault Sport UK's UK championship and the British Automobile Racing Club's BARC championship. Generally, the UK series is recognized as the British Formula Renault.
In 1989, the series, the "British Formula Renault Championship", was founded by the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC). In the next year, the Renault Sport UK became the organizer of the event. Today, this championship is recognized as the "British Formula Renault". The name of the championship was changed to the "Formula Renault UK Championship" in 2005.
The BARC refounded another championship in 1996. Consequently, two championships existed at the following in the United Kingdom. However, the purpose the BARC championship is different from the UK championship and the championship exists mainly to satisfy the amateur racers' demands. Therefore, the BARC championship's Club Class uses old chassis had used in the UK series and Renault Sport UK also supports the BARC series.
Kimi Räikkönen, the champion of the UK series in 2000, made a successful debut in Formula One the next year. This event brought keen attention to the Formula Renault Championships and became a chance to found new championships in Italy, Brazil and Asia. Räikkönen went on to become Formula One World Champion in .
The championship owns an annual regular series and a winter series. The regular series is the main championship and usually holds 10 rounds, 20 races, in a year, from 2004.
Though the championship used the engines of 1,721cc at the beginning, now uses its of 2,000cc 16V from the year 2000, after using a 2000cc 8V between 1995 and 1999. Therefore, the championship is called "Formula Renault 2.0" from 2005
Michelin, a French tyre manufacturer, taking a role of the tire supplier and the title sponsor of the series.
The series is one of the most competitive Formula Renault championships and there are some notable Formula One Drivers who have raced in the series, like Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen.
The BARC championship was refounded in 1995. The series was named "Formula Renault BARC Championship" to distinguish from the another series, the British Formula Renault Championship. The series has two classes: FR2000 class and Club Class.
Most of the regulation of the FR2000 class about the cars is same as the UK series, but the car is 5 kg heavier than it of another.
The Club Class uses old chassis in the 1990s.
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Ivan Arias
Franck Mailleux