Renault RE30

Renault RE30
Renault RE30B
Renault RE30C
	René Arnoux with the RE30 at the 1981 Dutch Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Renault
Designer(s)	Bernard Dudot (Technical Director, lead engine designer); Michel Têtu (Chief Designer (chassis)); Marcel Hubert (Head of Aerodynamics)
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 Prost; 16. René Arnoux
Debut	1981 Monaco Grand Prix
First win	1981 French Grand Prix
Last win	1982 Italian Grand Prix
Last event	1983 United States West Grand Prix
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Renault RE30 was a Formula One car designed by Bernard Dudot and Michel Têtu for use by the Renault team in the 1981 Formula One season. An updated version, the RE30B, was used in the 1982 season, and a further update, the RE30C, at the start of the 1983 season.

History

1981

The RE30 was an entirely different design from its predecessor, the RE20. It incorporated carbon fibre – a material which was becoming increasingly commonplace in F1 at the time – into parts of its construction, 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, producing around 540 bhp (400 kW), with twin KKK turbochargers. The car had advanced ground effect technology, with concessions given to the new rules for 1981 which banned sliding skirts. The car was quick - probably the quickest car in the field - but it came too late in the season to overcome the RE20B's unreliability in the first part of the season. It was the only car that could pass the very powerful, but downforce-lacking, Ferrari 126C in a straight line.

After the team used the RE20 for the first five races of the 1981 World Championship, the RE30 made its debut at the Monaco Grand Prix. At the team's home race in France, René Arnoux put the car on pole position, before team-mate Alain Prost took his first Grand Prix victory. The car then took pole in each of the next five races (Arnoux three times and Prost twice), with Prost winning again in Holland and finishing second in Germany, and Arnoux finishing second in Austria. Prost then took a third win in Italy, before rounding off the year with another second place at Caesars Palace. Prost thus finished fifth in the Drivers' Championship with Arnoux ninth, while the team took third in the Constructors' Championship.

1982

For 1982, the car was updated and modified with a redesigned nose section that featured separate left and right front wings and a new rear wing, becoming RE30 in "B" specification. Advances in ground effect meant that the cars frequently ran without the front wings attached. The engine was further developed to give around 590 bhp. Prost made a strong start to the season and won in Brazil and South Africa, to underline his intention to win the championship that season. However, those would be his only victories of the year, as Ferrari, Williams and McLaren overtook Renault in the technology race. The RE30B was a formidable qualifying car, with Prost or Arnoux on pole for the majority of the races, but reliability was suspect for both drivers, mostly due to problems with the new and rather experimental electronic fuel injection which failed repeatedly during the races. Corporate politics at Renault effectively forced the team to use the system throughout the season. It was a shame, because the RE30B was probably the most competitive car that season, having the best compromise on outright performance - with a good chassis and aerodynamics - and a powerful enough engine. The car was quick around all kinds of different circuits - even around even tight, slow circuits like Monaco, Detroit, Zolder and Long Beach - where the other cars with turbo-charged engines (Ferrari, Brabham-BMW, and less competitively Toleman-Hart) lacked in performance, due to the heavier weight and poor engine pickup, thanks to massive turbo lag, so the cars with the less powerful naturally aspirated engines were able to capitalize by being able to get more power more quickly out of slow corners. Arnoux took two wins during the latter half of the year, but only finished four races during the whole season. Prost was in sight of victory at Monaco, Austria and Dijon but had problems during the final laps of all three races. He eventually salvaged fourth in the championship, whilst Renault finished third in the constructors' championship.

1983

The RE30 was further updated to "C" specification for the start of the 1983 season, before the new RE40 became available. Prost and new team-mate Eddie Cheever both drove the RE30C at the season opener in Brazil, with Cheever then driving the car again at Long Beach. The RE30C complied with the "flat bottom" rules enacted that year, with a much larger rear wing and revised front wings.

With seven wins and sixteen pole positions, the RE30 was Renault's most successful car until Fernando Alonso's world championships of 2005 and 2006.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1981	Equipe Renault Elf	RE30	Renault-Gordini EF1 V6 (t/c)	M		USW	BRA	ARG	SMR	BEL	MON	ESP	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	CPL		54*	3rd
					Alain Prost						Ret	Ret	1	Ret	2	Ret	1	1	Ret	2
					René Arnoux						Ret	9	4	9	13	2	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret
1982	Equipe Renault Elf	RE30B	Renault-Gordini EF1 V6 (t/c)	M		RSA	BRA	USW	SMR	BEL	MON	DET	CAN	NED	GBR	FRA	GER	AUT	SUI	ITA	CPL	62	3rd
					Alain Prost	1	1	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	NC	Ret	Ret	6	2	Ret	8	2	Ret	4
					René Arnoux	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	1	2	Ret	16	1	Ret
1983	Equipe Renault Elf	RE30C	Renault-Gordini EF1 V6 (t/c)	M		BRA	USW	FRA	SMR	MON	BEL	DET	CAN	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	RSA		79**	2nd
					Alain Prost	7
					Eddie Cheever	Ret	13

* 6 points scored using the Renault RE20
** All 79 points scored using the Renault RE40

Sources

Pritchard, Anthony (1986). Directory of Formula One Cars 1966-1986. Aston Publications. pp. 180–182. ISBN 0-946627-02-9.
Nye, Doug (1986). Autocourse History of the Grand Prix Car 1966-1985. Hazleton Publishing. p. 231. ISBN 0-905138-37-6.