The series was created in 2006 through the merger of two pre-existing championships: the Formula Renault 2.0 Germany, which had been running since 1991, and the Formula Renault 2.0 Netherlands, established in 2003. By consolidating these competitions under a single banner, the promoter MdH Consultants AG aimed to create a stronger, more competitive field and simplify the entry path for junior drivers.
All cars in the championship used the Tatuus chassis paired with a 2.0-litre Renault Clio engine, the same powertrain specification employed by other Formula Renault 2.0 series across Europe. Michelin supplied tyres throughout the series' lifespan. The combination of standardised hardware helped keep costs controlled and placed the emphasis on driver skill rather than equipment advantage.
Points were awarded on a graduated scale, with 30 points for the race winner, 24 for second place, 20 for third, and decreasing allocations down to 1 point for twentieth position. Only classified finishers received points. This structure encouraged consistent race-finishing performances as well as outright victories.
The series initially focused on circuits in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium but expanded over the years to encompass venues across a wider European geography. In 2007, the calendar was supplemented by a Winter Cup — the first off-season addition to the championship — held at Hockenheim and Oschersleben in December, with the winner receiving a complimentary entry to the following year's full NEC season. This off-season event gave drivers additional competitive seat time and extended the reach of the championship's calendar.
A secondary class, the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup FR2000, was introduced in 2010, broadening participation opportunities and providing an additional on-ramp for drivers entering single-seater competition at a lower cost tier.
Through the 2010s the series served as a primary proving ground for drivers targeting the European Formula 3 Championship or other prestigious junior categories. The NEC carried a reputation for competitive fields and professional organisation, making its champions and frontrunners attractive prospects for teams in higher formulae.
The series was scheduled to undergo a rebrand as FormulaNEC, but that transition was never completed. By late in the decade, participation numbers had declined sharply, and a lack of driver interest made sustaining the championship economically unviable. The series was folded before the 2019 season could begin, ending a run of over a decade as one of Northern Europe's principal junior single-seater contests.
The Formula Renault NEC produced a significant number of drivers who went on to compete at higher levels of motorsport. Its longevity — spanning more than a decade under the merged NEC banner, with roots in the German and Dutch championships dating back to 1991 — made it a pillar of European junior single-seater racing. The series helped demonstrate that regional championships could serve an effective talent pipeline function, even as the landscape of junior formulae grew more fragmented and competitive from the early 2010s onward.