After its track debut at Jerez testing last week in interim livery,
Renault officially launched the striking new colours of the R27 in
Amsterdam on January 24th. Along with new title sponsor ING the team
unveiled the new car, displaying dark blue front and rear wings and the
body predominantly yellow on the nose, white around the cockpit and
orange at the rear.
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The Renault R27. Photo by xpb.cc.
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Along with the unusual colour scheme, which is actually not too bad once
you get over the initial surprise, the R27 is said to be an evolution of
Renault's championship winning cars of 2005 and 2006. The aero is a step
forward in efficiency and the seven speed gearbox is an 'instantaneous
gearchange' developed with the Bridgestone tyres in mind.
"The aerodynamic packaging is even more sophisticated than in previous
years, while the gains from our new gearbox have been significant on
track," said technical director Bob Bell.
"We have kept the mechanical configuration of the suspension consistent
in order to understand as thoroughly as possible the demands of the new
Bridgestone Potenza tyres. We made a successful start to the adaptation
process in the latter stages of 2006, and this will continue up to the
first race."
"Everybody is expecting an extremely competitive season in 2007, and we
are confident that our proven track record of world championship success
will prove a considerable asset in that battle. The team is hungry to
continue winning, and the R27 reflects that determination."
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Rob White, Depute MD Engine Development Renault F1 Team and Bob Bell, Technical Director Chassis Renault F1 Team. Photo by xpb.cc.
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The RS27 engine has, obviously, been designed in line with the FIA's
engine homologation regulations. "Our development work has been
conducted within the framework of the new rules and although the engine
will be called RS27, it contains just 10% new parts -- compared to over
95% in previous years," said engine deputy manager Rob White.
"However, it remains one of the most advanced competition engines in the
world, operating in an extreme environment, with tiny margins for error.
As always, our goal will be to achieve the only acceptable objective for
a topline Formula One engine: zero-defect reliability. We have worked
hard to blend this with competitive performance for the season ahead."
2007 is Giancarlo Fisichella's third year with the team and this season,
due to the departure of champion Fernando Alonso, he is partnered by
rookie Heikki Kovalainen, who was official test and third driver in
2006. Renault believes that the combination of Fisichella's experience
and Kovalainen's young talent will keep up the team's winning ways.
"The spirit of the team is strong after two fantastic seasons, and
we are feeling optimistic," said Fisichella. "The team has shown its
confidence in me for the new season, and I am determined to repay that
in the best way possible, out on track. The team knows how to design
winning cars capable of fighting for the championship. That means there
is a fantastic opportunity for me this year, and I am determined to make
the most of it."
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Heikki Kovalainen and Giancarlo Fisichella. Photo by xpb.cc.
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Kovalainen, naturally, is excited about his impending first season.
"It is a big privilege for a rookie driver to start his career in a
race-winning car, and I am focused on doing it justice," the Finn
commented. This will be a season where I have a lot to learn, and I need
to keep mistakes to a minimum."
"There will be pressure, but that will come from me, because I always
drive myself to improve in every area. Overall, I am expecting 2007 to
be a fantastic year for me. I am in the best possible place to start my
career, and my focus is on preparing as thoroughly as possible for the
first race - and the sixteen to come after that."
Despite the loss of Alonso and other changes, such as the switch to
Bridgestone tyres, managing director Flavio Briatore was adamant that
2007 will not be a 'transitional' year for Renault. "We have always said
that the team is what matters, and that success comes from the team
spirit that unites us," he remarked. "2007 is a fantastic opportunity to
prove exactly that."
"There are some big changes for this season, not just at Renault but
throughout the grid. We believe in our choices, and we are confident
that they will help us achieve more success in 2007. It will be a year
of tough competition at every level. Those are the conditions that allow
the best teams to shine, and that is exactly what we intend to do."
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Flavio Briatore, Managing Director Renault F1 Team and Alain Dassas, President Renault F1 Team. Photo by xpb.cc.
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RenaultF1 President Alain Dassas said the team's world championship
successes had earned its place as a 'major force' in F1. "Consecutive
double championships are concrete proof that Renault can win in
a demanding environment where success demands quality, technical
excellence and reliability," he stated.
"We must now live up to that reputation. The team will present a fresh
face to the world with the arrival of ING as our new title partner, and
we are proud to welcome this major, global financial institution to
Formula One. But on track, our challenge will remain the same: we will
be asking our technical teams and drivers to make Renault a championship
contender in 2007."
R27 technical specifications
Chassis: Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by the Renault F1 Team and designed for maximum strength and stiffness with minimum weight. Engine installed as a fully-stressed member.
Front suspension: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torsion bar and damper units which are mounted at the front of the monocoque
Rear suspension: Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operating vertically-mounted torsion bars and
horizontally-mounted damper units mounted on the top of the gearbox casing.
Transmission: Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with one reverse gear. Instantaneous
gearchange system for maximum performance.
Fuel system: Kevlar-reinforced rubber fuel cell by ATL.
Cooling system: Separate oil and water radiators located in the car's sidepods and cooled using airflow from the
car's forward motion
Electrical: Integrated Step 11 chassis/engine electronics and software co-developed by Renault F1 Team
and Magneti Marelli.
Braking system: Carbon discs and pads (Hitco); calipers by AP Racing
Cockpit
Removable driver’s seat made of anatomically formed carbon composite, with six-point harness
seat belt. Steering wheel integrates gear change and clutch paddles.
Car dimensions and weight
Front track 1450 mm
Rear track 1400 mm
Wheelbase 3100 mm
Overall length 4800 mm
Overall height 950 mm
Overall width 1800 mm
Overall weight 605 kg, with driver, camera and ballast.
RS27 V8 Engine
Capacity: 2400 cc
Architecture: 90° V8
Weight: 95 kg
Max RPM: 19,000 rpm
Spark plugs: Champion
ECU: Magneti Marelli Step 11
Fuel: Elf
Oil: Elf
Battery: Renault F1 Team
