Formula Renault AsiaCup

The Formula Renault AsiaCup (formerly known as the Asian Formula Renault Challenge and AFR Series) was a Formula Regional championship held in Asia. The series debuted in 2002 and also held the China Formula Renault Challenge.

The series is a part of the Formula Racing Development Limited (FRD) organization managed by Kenneth Ma to promote motorsport in Asia.^[1] The FRD also runs the China Formula Campus and Clio Cup China Series.

The cars use Tatuus chassis and 2.0 L Renault Clio engines like other Formula Renault 2.0 series. After several seasons racing on Kumho tires, the series started using Giti tires from 2014.

With the aim of providing a budget junior racing series around the Asian region, FRD, with the support of Renault Sport, imported a fleet of Formula Renault 2.0 race cars and first organized the Asian Formula Renault Series in 2000. The series attracted numerous young talents from the region.

From 2002 to 2005, the series held an invitational race during the Macau Grand Prix weekend. Future F1 drivers such as Kamui Kobayashi, Kazuki Nakajima, Bruno Senna and Red Bull Junior Team'sScott Speed all once took part in the event.

The Asian Formula Renault Series changed its name to the Formula Renault AsiaCup, commencing in 2020. Formula Renault AsiaCup aligned with the Formula Renault Eurocup running the Tatuus F3R-Spec car with a Renault engine (Formula Renault FR-19) and the FIA F3/2018 homologated chassis.

The main classification was the International Challenge, the winner of which was the overall champion of the series. From 2007 until 2013, Asian drivers also had a parallel category with the Asian Challenge. Another class, for Chinese events only, was the China Formula Renault Challenge, which was an entry-level series intended to reduce the championship cost. All series drivers and teams raced at the same time during the races in China but points were calculated separately.

The cars can be tested outside the race weekend on the Zhuhai International Circuit or Shanghai International Circuit.

El fin de semana de carreras comienza el jueves y el viernes con una sesión de práctica libre de dos horas, con un costo adicional para los pilotos. El sábado hay dos sesiones de práctica de 30 minutos y 20 minutos de clasificación. El domingo por la mañana se realiza un calentamiento (15 minutos) y por la tarde se disputan dos carreras de 10 vueltas.

En 2013, la serie cambió su formato de campeonato a 3 clases: "Clase Internacional" como campeonato principal, "Clase Asiática" para pilotos novatos de la región y "Clase Máster" para pilotos aficionados de 35 años o más. Las 3 clases tienen sus propias clasificaciones y campeonatos de pilotos y equipos. ^{[ 2 ]}

En 2015, la serie cambió nuevamente su formato de campeonato debido a la introducción del actual auto FR2.0, que debutó en 2013 en la serie europea. ^{[ 3 ]} A partir de esta temporada, hay dos clases, Clase A para pilotos y equipos que compiten con el auto FR2.0 de 2013, y Clase B para pilotos y equipos que usan los autos FR2.0 de especificación anterior. ^{[ 4 ]}

Solo los pilotos y equipos que completen el 75% de una carrera reciben puntos. Los puntos se otorgan en cada carrera de la siguiente manera:

• Asian Formula Renault Series at frdsports.com.
• China Formula Renault ChallengeArchived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine at frdsports.com.
• Formula Racing Development LimitedArchived 2013-03-15 at the Wayback Machine official site.