The Week at RF1: 8 DEC 2006
An update on progress on the new R27 at Enstone, and details
of the team's official launch for next season.
R27 on time and on target
For the last two seasons, the Renault F1 Team has faced a
major challenge: designing the following year's car while
fighting for the world title until the very last round of
the championship. Technical Director Bob Bell updates us on
progress with the R27 programme, as the teams at Enstone work
round the clock to ready their latest championship challenger.
Bob, can you update us on progress with next year's
R27 programme?
BB: Everything is running smoothly. Compared to the design
of the R26, we are definitely ahead of the game at this stage.
The new chassis successfully completed FIA homologation testing
this week, while the rear end has already been running in
a hybrid R26 chassis since last week's test in Barcelona,
and has so far completed several thousand kilometres.
What are the next major steps in the project?
BB: The first car will be built before Christmas, and will
then complete several weeks of static testing here at the
factory, while we progress with the build of the second chassis.
We will conduct an initial shakedown on 16 January in Jerez,
followed by three full days of testing at the same circuit.
We will aim to run two chassis from that first test onwards,
in order to maximise our track time with the car and give
both race drivers the best possible preparation for the new
season.
How is work on R27 progressing in the wind tunnel?
BB: We are in the third year of the current aero regulations,
and it is a fact of life that it becomes harder and harder
to find gains as time goes on. However, the aerodynamics of
our cars have been a major strength over the past two championship-winning
seasons, and our team in the wind tunnel is pushing very hard
at the moment. They are making very encouraging progress.
What is the motivation like in the factory?
BB: The atmosphere at the moment is very good: the work rate
is high, as always at this time of the year, and the team
is more motivated than ever. Firstly, we are coming off the
back of a title-winning season, which always brings a huge
boost. And secondly, we have a number of major changes ahead.
Change and challenges are sources of new motivation, they
invigorate a team, and we are looking forward to the new car
and the new season with real optimism.
Looking at winter testing so far, the team has not
topped the times at any point…
BB: Our objectives for these winter tests are very clear:
to find our feet with the Bridgestone tyres, while also building
reliability and confidence with the 2007 rear end. Everything
has gone to plan, and the R26 has been quick when we have
run performance programmes. The new gearbox has been operating
reliably, which has been a great source of motivation for
the team. So far, all the signs indicate that we are making
very good progress – and that we will be ready to hit
the ground running when the R27 runs for the first time in
January.
R27 to be launched in Amsterdam
The Renault F1 Team is pleased to announce that its 2007
challenger will be launched in the Dutch capital Amsterdam
on 24 January 2007. The car will be launched at ‘The
Factory', an industrial exhibition space in the Oostenburg
area of the city.
Amsterdam is the home city of the team's new title partner,
ING Group, and was chosen to mark their arrival in the sport
as title partner of the reigning Formula 1 World Champions.
The launch will see the introduction of the team's new 2007
livery, before the ING Renault F1 Team makes its race debut
at the 2007 Formula One ING Australian Grand Prix.
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