ONCE UPON A TIME IN FORMULA RENAULT – Auto Action

By Dan McCarthy

Date posted: July 1, 2022

The fairytale that never came true in Australia

This story is old but totally true.

It’s the story of how single-seater racing in Australia could have been saved, and then prospered, for the past 15 years.

It’s not about S5000 openwheelers, or Formula Ford, or even the dismal disaster that played out in Formula 4.

Instead, it’s the story of Formula Renault and how it could have been the best thing to happen for Aussie youngsters since the original introduction of Formula Ford in the 1970s.

The story begins at Dieppe in France back in 2015.

A group of Australian motoring journalists are visiting Renault Sport to look at the latest road cars from the French brand, when there is a sudden diversion.

“Hey, come and look at my new car,” says Justin Hocevar, the managing director of Renault Australia, who was using a big commitment to RenaultSport fast cars as a way to drive sales.

“Here it is,” he says, pointing to a single-seater racing car.

That cannot be right, or real, I’m thinking.

But then he rolls out an audacious plan to transform the lower rungs of open-wheeler racing in Australia, using Formula Renault as a springboard into the upper regions of local motorsport and – for one talented youngster – a potential path to Formula One.

“I’ve ordered 24 cars,” Hocevar tells me in the RS factory in Dieppe.

But, even now, he is angry about what followed.

“We had vehicles sorted. Category management. Parts deals,” Hocevar recalls. “Global sponsor OK; local sponsors in waiting. Big shame.”

The plan was simple.

Renault Australia was going to buy and import the cars, which were 2-litre single-seaters with small wings and slick tyres. They were intended as a stepping stone from karts and a launching pad into the Renault 3.5 series that was being used as a springboard into Formula One. Among the Formula Renault champions were Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas and Brendon Hartley.

In 2019 after the death of the Renault 3.5 series, Australian Oscar Piastri won the 2.0L Formula Renault Eurocup Series which was now the premier World Series by Renault championship. Hocevar had all the bases covered.

“A go-kart championship where the winner would win a free year in Formula Renault. A Driverto-Europe funded by Renault Australia was on the table. Flights, allowance and test drive.”

But, wait, there’s more.

Renault dealers would provide a package, with a van and trailer, for Formula Renault teams. So their towing and track base would be covered.

And it could be financed through an all-in deal at a sharp price from Renault Australia. So, what happened?

The idea was presented to CAMS, with Mark Skaife helping to clear the path.

The proposal was laid out in fine detail, including category management.

But CAMS wasn’t interested. Not a bit.

This was in the time when Formula 4 was being proposed in Europe, with retired F1 driver Gerhard Berger as one of the driving forces.

Jean Todt, president of the FIA at the time, was a supporter of the plan – not even yet launched – for Formula 4 as a potential global category for youngsters.

CAMS decided to totally reject the Renault plan, choosing an unproven idea over a rock-solid commitment, to line up with the FIA.

So Australia got Formula 4, which was never popular with Formula Ford drivers or teams, and – despite heavy spending in the early days – it flopped. Badly.

The order for the 24 race cars was cancelled and Renault returned its focus to road cars.

But Hocevar, and the people who knew the story, have not forgotten.

“Could have developed some future Aussie stars. When you think about how many came up through Renault programs,” Hocevar says now.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action.

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Source: https://autoaction.com.au/2022/07/01/once-upon-a-time-in-formula-renault