Development completed with success for the Renault Sport R.S. 01
Combining the talent of the Renault design team with the know-how of the Ulis men, the Renault Sport R.S. 01 embodies the new face of the World Series by Renault. Launched at the end of 2013, the RTC15 project is now well and truly real, ready for its competition debut at the end of an intense development program.
Last June, Renault Sport Technologies unveiled the bodywork line of its future race car. On August 27 in Moscow, the public discovered the Renault Sport R.S. 01, a vehicle with a spectacular style and exceptional performance.
At the same time, the Renault Sport Technologies men and their partners were conducting the first phase of a sustained development program : the shakedown of the Renault Sport R.S. 01 at the Autodromo di Franciacorta.
Beginning at the Circuito de la Comunidad Valenciana Ricardo Tormo and concluding at the Autodromo di Vallelunga, the development led the star of the Renault Sport Trophy to the Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya, l’Autodromo di Monza, the Circuito de Jerez, Motorland Aragón and the Circuito de Navarra.
During 17 days of testing, the Renault Sport R.S. 01 put in a total of 7475 kilometers in all conditions. Drivers with varied and complimentary backgrounds took their turns at the wheel of the Renault Sport creation. Among them were Alexandre Prémat, Andy Soucek, Albert Costa, Mirko Bortolotti, Dimitri Enjalbert, Anthony Beltoise, Nick Castburg, Renaud Kuppens, and Laurent Hurgon as well drivers from the world of endurance and Formula 1.
The results of this hard work rapidly paid off because all the development objectives were met even surpassed. Far from resting on their laurels, the Ulis teams are studying ways to reduce front brake wear with the goal of ensuring the competitors need just one set of discs per season.
The tests have seen the R.S. 01 post a few reference times at the Valencia (1:28.8), Barcelona (1:43.9), Motorland (1:53.7) and Vallelunga circuits (1:30.6). A performance level between the DTM and the best GT3s, the goal set by Renault Sport from the inception of the project.
The drivers involved in the development process hailed the ease of handling of the Renault Sport R.S. 01. All compared it to an open-wheel car ; they praised its stability, its reactive steering and its high level of downforce, which quickly built confidence. In addition to these strengths add a very powerful and easy braking with ABS, the adjustability of the steering wheel, an engine that furnishes a lot of torque as well as very minimal degradation to the tires proposed by Michelin.
Immediately following the final test session at Vallelunga at the end of December, the assembling of the customer cars began. The first deliveries to the teams will take place in March before the first race at Spa-Francorchamps in the World Series by Renault.
