NEWS: Epic 500bhp Renaultsport R.S 01 Racer Unveiled

Hold onto your hats, as this is epic!

Renaultsport has unveiled a brand new, incredible 500+bhp racer with a carbon monocoque respecting LMP1 2014 standards, to compete in an all-new one-make Renaultsport Trophy championship in the World Series by Renault from next year.

Designed under the management of Laurens van den Acker, Renault says it is "restating its passion for motor sports with the Renaultsport R.S. 01, a racing car of spectacular styling and exceptional performance. With a design inspired by the world of concept cars and governed by an absolute pursuit of aerodynamic downforce, Renaultsport R.S. 01 is a radical expression of the brand’s sporting DNA."

The technical specifications is as first rate as its looks:

* A carbon monocoque for a weight of less than 1,100 kg 

* A Nismo-created Nissan GT-R 3.8-litre V6 twin turbo engine developing over 500bhp, between GT3 and DTM specifications, with dry-sump, Pectel management etc.

* A seven-speed sequential gearbox built by Sadev, with one-size-fits-all ratios, to keep costs affordable, oh, and a self-locking differential and a sequential control system managed by a XAP electromagnetic actuator. 

* 300Km/h top speed

* Ohlins dampers

* 380 mm carbon discs from PFC Brakes with six-piston callipers and Bosch Motorsport ABS

* Full aerodynamics pack

Patrice Ratti, CEO of Renault Sport Technologies says: "Renaultsport R.S. 01 is a racing car of extraordinary design, symbolising Renault’s passion for motor sports. The spectacular design lines reflect in themselves the ambitions of this exceptional car, thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of Laurens van den Acker and his team. Under the bodywork, it is packed with cutting-edge systems from Renault Sport Technologies. The aim is to achieve an advanced level of performance, delivering thrills for both the driver and the public. If we had to sum up Renaultsport R.S. 01 in a few words, we could describe it as a marriage between the beauty of Renault DeZir and the performance of Formula Renault 3.5!

And Alain Prost, Renault Ambassador for motorsport said: "Renaultsport R.S. 01 is a spectacular racing car, in the purest tradition of GT. With its high-level sporting capacities, Renaultsport R.S. 01 illustrates the rich expertise of Renaultsport, and its ability to develop the racing cars that will reveal future GT or Endurance champions."
Looking beyond the adjustable fin, the rear diffuser “pushes”’ Renaultsport R.S. 01 to the track, extracting the air flow sweeping under the flat bottom. This system has a huge advantage in that it creates no drag and so does not penalise top speed.

Three questions for… Éric Diemert – Design Director, Renault Sport Technologies:

What were the requirements concerning the design of Renaultsport R.S. 01?
"Renault Sport Technologies wanted to develop a car exploring a new dimension in performance. So it was important for this impetus to be visible in design. Also, the reach of Renaultsport R.S. 01 had to extend beyond the range to make it an iconic brand model. This is why it looks nothing like a production vehicle. The process was similar to designing a concept car in terms of the freedom enjoyed by the team, so that was really exciting."

What were the main stages in the process leading up to presentation of the mock-up at the Moscow Motor Show?

"All our projects begin with an in-house competition. From 22nd November, 2013, as part of this first phase, sixteen designers from our network of Design centres in France and other countries were able to give free rein to their creative drive. At the end of three weeks, we chose the work of Akio Shimizu, a young Japanese designer working at the Guyancourt exterior design studio. His project was a natural choice for its strength of expression and immediate connection with Renault’s identity. We then made a digital mock-up of his drawings. This took us into the technical phase, based on constant small-loop exchanges with Renault Sport Technologies and Dallara. The aim was to establish the best possible balance between our requirements in terms of design and aerodynamics. With each iteration, performance was verified by means of CFD calculations. We then milled a full-size mock-up. This stage was crucial to validating the vehicle’s proportions and attitude. The result showed our decisions to be sound, so subsequent changes primarily concerned fine-tuning of the body lines, air intakes and extractors. The definitive design was frozen on 25th April."

How would you assess the result?

"First, we need to emphasize that the entire project was completed in five months. That’s a particularly short time frame compared with the production projects we’re used to. Renaultsport R.S.01 expresses a successful convergence achieved against challenging constraints relating to the quest for top-level performance. With hindsight, I would say that the aerodynamics issue largely guided but - above all - stimulated our creativity! The end product is a source of great pride for the entire team. We’re impatient now to see the cars on the starting grid for their first race!"

Wowzers! We can't wait to see a grid full of these beasts in action next year, can you?

Technical Specification

CHASSIS
Type	Dallara carbon monocoque and steel roll cage
Safety	Monocoque, roll cage and crashboxes compliant with FIA LMP1 2014 standards, collapsible steering column, Sabelt seat FIA 8862/2009 standard
Bodywork	Composites
Aerodynamic features	Front blade and splitter, stepped flat bottom, rear diffuser and rear wing
ENGINE
Type	Nismo V6 - 24 valves – 3,799 cm3
Layout	Longitudinal central rear
Feed	Injection – 2 turbochargers
Max power	> 500 hp
Max torque	> 600 N.m
Max engine speed	6,800 rpm
Electronic management	Pectel SQ6M with traction control
Data acquisition	Cosworth ICD Pro
TRANSMISSION
Type	Rear wheel drive
Gearbox	Sadev sequential, 7 speed+ reverse
Control	XAP semi-automatic with steering-wheel paddles
Differential	Limited slip
Clutch	ZF Race Engineering, long service life with anti-stall function
RUNNING GEAR AND SUSPENSION
Suspension	Double wishbone + pushrods
Dampers	Öhlins 2-way adjustable
Brakes	PFC Brakes 380 mm carbon discs, 6-piston calipers, Bosch ABS system
Steering	Hydraulic power steering
WHEELS
Wheels	Braid wheels, central mounting
Tyres	Michelin 30/68 R18 (front) and 31/71 R18 (rear)
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES
Length	4,710 mm
Width	2,000 mm
Height	1,116 mm
Wheelbase	2,744 mm
Front/rear track	1,675 / 1,624 mm
Fuel tank	150 litres
Weight	< 1,100 kg

See more images of the beast here.