Renault RE30B
 |
|
| Category | Formula One |
|---|---|
| Constructor | Renault |
| Designer(s) |
Michel Tétu Gérard Larrousse |
| Predecessor | RE20 |
| Successor | RE40 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Chassis | Aluminium honeycomb monocoque with carbon fibre stress points |
| Suspension (front) | upper rocker arms, lower wishbones |
| Suspension (rear) | upper rocker arms, lower wishbones |
| Axle track | Front: 1,740 mm (69 in) Rear: 1,630 mm (64 in) |
| Wheelbase | 2,730 mm (107 in) |
| Engine | Renault Gordini EF1, 1,492 cc (91.0 cu in), 90° V6, turbo mid-engine, longitudinally mounted |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual |
| Weight | 605 kg (1,334 lb) |
| Fuel | Elf |
| Tyres | Michelin |
| Competition history | |
| Notable entrants | Equipe Renault Elf |
| Notable drivers | 15.  Alain Prost16. René Arnoux
|
| Debut | 1981 Monaco Grand Prix |
| Constructors' Championships | 0 |
| Drivers' Championships | 0 |
The Renault RE30 was a Formula One car designed by Michel Tétu and Gérard Larrousse for use by the Renault team in the 1981 Formula One season.
The RE30 was an entirely different design from its predecessor, the RE20. It incorporated carbon fibre into parts of its construction, a material which was becoming more and more commonplace in F1 at the time, and featured distinctive aerodynamic kick-ups ahead of the rear wheels. The initial version featured a full span front wing. The turbocharged engine was developed further and produced around 540 bhp, with twin KKK turbochargers. Renault was joined by Ferrari in developing turbo engines for their cars, with the Ferrari 126 C. The car had advanced ground effect technology, with concessions given to the new rules which banned sliding skirts. The car made its debut at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1981, with Renault using a B-spec. RE20 for the first 5 races in the Americas, Belgium and Imola; Renault did not compete at what was supposed to be the first round at Kyalami in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Renault replaced Jean-Pierre Jabouille with promising young Alain Prost to partner René Arnoux for the season. After a slow start to the year, in which Prost gained only one podium finish, he broke his duck with a home win at the French Grand Prix at Dijon in changeable weather, and followed up with wins at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, which gave him an outside chance at the world championship. Unreliability cost him his chance, but he finished a respectable fourth in the final standings. Arnoux had a very unlucky season and bore the brunt of most of the mechanical trouble that affected the RE30's development, most of which was done by Prost. The RE30 didn't suit Arnoux's aggressive, over-steering driving style as opposed to Prost's smooth, under-steering driving style which may have caused some of the problems with Arnoux's performance that year.
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