2004 Mont-Tremblant

The Formula Renault North American Championship, called the Fran-Am Championship initially, was developed to provide competitors with the best possible car at the best possible price. The series also sought to contain operating costs by careful design and minimizing the advantages gained by spending money. To attract teams, a generous prize fund was available.

The Formula Renault 2000, constructed by Tatuus, represents the sixth generation of this popular European formula. The car's carbon-fiber monocoque boasts fully-integrated lateral protection structures for the driver's head. The suspension is a wishbone design that is fully adjustable and allows for changes to the car's camber and caster settings. Similarly, the shock absorbers are adjustable for compression and rebound. Four 4-piston calipers are used with ventilated rotors to stop the Formula Renault 2000. There is also a cockpit-activated brake balance bar.

The 2-liter Renault Clio engine used in the car is fitted with a six-speed sequential gearbox. The gear ratios can be changed and the setup also includes a limited-slip differential. A hydraulically operated twin-plate clutch is between the engine and transmission using Formula 3 technology.

The Formula Renault 2000 uses OZ aluminum wheels with center locking nuts. The wheels, which are 8X13-inches on the front and 10X13-inches on the rear, are equipped with Michelin Sport racing tires. The car tips the scale at 480-kg.

Fourteen rounds were contested for the 2004 Formula Renault North American Championship. Formula Renault was a support event at many high-profile race weekends.

April 8-10 – Phoenix International Raceway – Grand-Am
May 21-23 – Circuit Mont-Tremblant – Grand-Am
June 18-20 – Watkins Glen International – Grand-Am
July 9-11 – Toronto Exhibition Place - Champcar
July 23-25 – Vancouver BC Place - Champcar
July 30-31 – Le Grand Prix du Trois-Rivieres – Trans-Am
August 6-8 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Grand-Am
September 10-12 – Homestead Miami Speedway – Grand-Am
September 24-26 – Circuit Mont-Tremblant – Grand-Am
October 1-3 – Virginia International Raceway – Grand-Am
October 8-10 – Barber Motorsports Park – Grand-Am
October 23 – Pikes Peak International Raceway – Formula Renault
October 24 – Pikes Peak International Raceway – Formula Renault
October 29-31 – California Speedway – Grand-Am

Round two of the 2004 Formula Renault North American Pro Championship was conducted at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. Drivers would compete in an eighteen-lap contest around the fifteen-turn 2.65-mile road course.

Mark Wilkins returned to the Formula Renault series for a second season with AIM Autosport driving the No. 34 Formula Renault 2000 sponsored by Trizec Canada. He collected third place in the first race of the year at Phoenix after starting in the fifth position. At Mont-Tremblant, Wilkins qualified third; when the second and third place starters encountered issues, he inherited first-place and the victory.

Finishing in the runner-up position at Mont-Tremblant was Gustavo Sondermann. Sondermann was piloting the No. 4 Priests for Life Formula Renault 2000. In the season opener at Phoenix, he qualified in the fourth spot but finished eighth. In round two, Sondermann started in the fourth position again but benefitted from the retirements of Marco Gomes and Juan Martin Ponte to finish second by 0.863-seconds.

The No. 9 Formula Renault 2000 was prepared by Condor Motorsports and driven by Renato Jader David. Jader David qualified third at Phoenix International Raceway and finished in the fifth spot. At Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, he was fifth in the qualifying session. Like Sondermann, he was also a beneficiary of the contact between the leaders and earned the final position on the podium.

Venezuelan Ricardo Imery was campaigning the No. 7 Cavenas sponsored Formula Renault 2000. The car, prepared by EuroInternational Inc., finished fourth after starting in the seventh position at Phoenix International Raceway. With the difficulties suffered by Marco Gomes and Juan Martin Ponte, Imery advanced two places to finish fourth. In round two, he was sixth fastest during the time trials.

Another competitor returning from last season was Juan Martin Ponte. Martin Ponte often finished at the top or the bottom of the results sheet. The driver of the No. 50 IPS / Grape King Formula Renault 2000 won the opening round of the 2004 championship by a margin of 3.071-seconds. At Mont-Tremblant, Martin Ponte qualified second, but after contact with Marco Gomes, he was the race's first retirement.

POS	START	DRIVER	CAR	SPONSOR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	3	Mark Wilkins	Formula Renault 2000	Trizec Canada	18	-
2	4	Gustavo Sondermann	Formula Renault 2000	Priests for Life	18	-
3	5	Renato Jader David	Formula Renault 2000	TBA	18	-
4	6	Ricardo Imery	Formula Renault 2000	Cavenas	18	-
5	8	Antoine Bessette	Formula Renault 2000	Elan Intl/Gouin LeBlanc	18	-
6	7	Aurelio Lopez	Formula Renault 2000	Jalmex	18	-
7	10	Nick Bussell	Formula Renault 2000	Klein Tools	18	-
8	11	Michael Yager	Formula Renault 2000	Mid-America	18	-
9	12	Robert Siska	Formula Renault 2000	RJS Motorsports	18	-
10	1	Marco Gomes	Formula Renault 2000	ITUPETRO	17	-
11	9	Brandon Thomas	Formula Renault 2000	Tenfore	15	Contact
12	13	Adam Dodds	Formula Renault 2000	TBA	15	Off Course
13	2	Juan Martin Ponte	Formula Renault 2000	IPS/Grapeking	12	Contact

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