UK has top 2007 World Series by Renault crowd

A record number of UK motorsport fans ensured September’s World Series by Renault spectacular at Donington Park was the world’s biggest Renault Sport event of 2007. A crowd of 135,000 smashed the previous best set in 2006 and was bigger than every other World Series by Renault meeting this season, also placing it behind only the British Grand Prix in terms of crowd size.

Building on the huge success of 2006, a crowd of 55,000 flocked to Donington Park on Saturday 8th September. An incredible 80,000 thronged to the circuit on Sunday 9th September to ensure the UK’s place at the top of the attendance table.

The motorsport festival, which offers free tickets via its dedicated website, proved a huge hit with fans from the UK as well as those who travelled from abroad to watch the thrilling race action at the spectator-friendly Leicestershire venue. The 2.5-mile Grand Prix circuit offers many superb vantage points, including a vast banked grass area overlooking the spectacular Craner Curves.

Belgium’s Zolder circuit hosted the first of seven World Series by Renault meetings this season, attracting a crowd of 98,000. The historic Nürburgring circuit drew 110,000 fans, the first of three successive six-figure crowds. The third race meeting at the Hungaroring saw 116,000 spectators attend the feast of motorsport.

Donington Park was the fourth World Series by Renault meeting as Renault celebrated the 30th anniversary of its debut in Formula One in the UK with an array of modern and historic Formula One cars. These included the 2006 double World Championship-winning ING Renault F1 Team R26 and Renault’s very first Grand Prix car, RS01.

World Series made its way to France and the Magny-Cours circuit where 90,000 were in attendance, before 35,000 watched the action at Portugal’s Estoril circuit. The season finale at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona attracted a live audience of 80,000, the announcement of this figure confirming the UK’s place at the head of the attendance table.

Renault UK Motorsport Manager, Tim Jackson, commented, “The World Series by Renault event at Donington Park this year was a spectacular weekend and we are delighted that so many people attended, many of them experiencing a motorsport event for the first time. To have the best-attended meeting of the year is a great achievement and a tribute to the high regard in which the event, now in its third year at the circuit, is held.”

A date for the UK leg of the 2008 World Series by Renault will be announced in due course.

2007 World Series by Renault attendance figures:

1 Donington Park GBR 135,000
2 Hungaroring HUN 116,000
3 Nürburgring GER 110,000
4 Zolder BEL 98,000
5 Magny-Cours FRA 90,000
6 Catalunya ESP 80,000
7 Estoril POR 35,000