Record crowds enjoy World Series by Renault at Silverstone

A record breaking total crowd of 135,000, including a staggering 85,000 spectators on Sunday alone, enjoyed a thrilling weekend of free motorsport action as World Series by Renault returned to Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on 4th/5th July.

110,000 spectators passed through Silverstone's gates in 2008, establishing the event as the second largest motorsport event in the UK behind the British Grand Prix.

Returning to the Northamptonshire circuit, motorsport fans were treated to a host of top international and UK racing combined with high-speed demonstrations from the ING Renault F1 Team, track displays by historic Renault cars as well as an array of off-track entertainment for the whole family. 1992 Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell also entertained crowds by driving his son's - Greg - Formula Renault 3.5 Series race car.

In addition, the free event gave open access to the paddock allowing fans to get up close to all the teams and drivers including British demonstration driver Adam Khan who took to the 3.2-mile track in the ING Renault F1 Team race car - as driven by double Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso.

Family fun...
In between the action-packed motorsport action, thousands of spectators took advantage of the off-track entertainment in the paddock area. ING Renault F1 Team simulators allowed budding drivers to test their skills as an F1 hopeful, while the Pit Stop Challenge gave people the chance to match the five seconds it takes top Formula One teams to change a full set of tyres!

Children were kept busy with special play areas, a big wheel and interactive video game pods while the Renault Sales Village allowed mums and dads to peruse the impressive Renault range including the special edition World Series by Renault models, inspired by the weekend. More than 600 guests also chose to take a test drive of the latest Renault models in the specially enclosed test area. Renaultsport fans also got to catch a sneak preview of the much talked about New Mégane Renaultsport 250 which doesn't go on sale in the UK until the end of the year.

On track, racing action filled much of the programme on Sunday with the headline 500hp Formula Renault 3.5 series seeing wins for Marcos Martinez and Charles Pic. Of the British drivers James Walker picked up a second and fourth place while Oliver Turvey secured two third places.

The Eurocup Mégane Trophy Series saw great racing among the 360hp race cars based on the road-going New Mégane Renaultsport, while in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 there was further British interest with a best result in the second race by Adrian Quaife-Hobbs taking third.

Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship and ELF Renault Clio Cup with Michelin each enjoyed two races on Sunday as well as their highest-ever attendance. For national-level racing drivers it was an extremely rare chance to compete on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit and in front of the packed grandstands. Josh Scott and Oli Webb took a win apiece in the Formula Renault UK, which boasts Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen among its former Champions, while Stefan Hodgetts took two impressive Clio Cup victories.

Renault's illustrious past on track...
Renault's proud heritage was celebrated by way of demonstration laps by a collection of 14 historic racing, road and rally cars led by legend rally driver Jean Ragnotti.

Commenting on the weekend, Renault UK Press and PR Director Tim Jackson, said: "Renault has a long and proud racing tradition in many different forms of motorsport and we're delighted to be able to showcase this through the World Series weekend.

"We received an overwhelming number of requests for tickets demonstrating the growing popularity for the two-day annual event. Spectators have been treated to a host of tremendous racing and entertainment throughout the weekend and we hopefully look forward to welcoming them back next year."