Bernard Dudot () (born 30 January 1939) is a French engineer who was instrumental in the development of the

turbo In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...

V6 and normally aspirated V10 engines of

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

while working for Alpine and

Renault Renault S.A., commonly referred to as Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English), is a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company curr ...

. , he is Head of Engineering of the GP2 Series. He has a similar role in GP3 Series since the creation of that category. He is also a consultant for Le Mans organisation.

Career

Alpine and Renault years

In 1967 he joined Automobiles Alpine, after convincing Jean Rédélé. Rédelé commissioned him to organize a motor development department of their own to reduce dependence on those of

Gordini Gordini () is a division of Renault Sport Technologies (Renault Sport). In the past, it was a sports car manufacturer and Car tuning, performance tuner, established in 1946 by Amédée Gordini (1899–1979), nicknamed "Le Sorcier" (The Sorcerer) ...

, Mignotet and Moteur Moderne. There he began to develop a turbo engine, which would be one of the bases for the future Renault's Formula One turbo engine. In 1971, he tuned a R16’s engine to be mounted on a chassis designed by André de Cortanze for the French F3 Championship. In 1973, before the merger between Alpine and Renault-Gordini, Jean Terramorsi, Chairman of the second company, sent Dudot to the United States to study the potential of turbo technology in motorsport. There he was finally convinced of the possibilities. Back in France, he went to work at the

Renault Sport Renault Sport () or Renaultsport, was a motorsport, performance and special vehicles division for Renault-badged cars and later a sub-badge of Renault cars managed by Automobiles Alpine, Alpine. The first Renault Sport was officially established ...

’s Viry-Châtillon factory where he and other developers ( François Castaing and Jean-Pierre Boudy) began adapting the CH1 (a two-litre engine for F2 and

Sport Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...

) to make it a smaller turbo engine. In early 1975, Castaing took a more administrative role and Boudy went to the design office, so Dudot was left in charge of developing an engine for

Le Mans Le Mans (; ) is a Communes of France, city in Northwestern France on the Sarthe (river), Sarthe River where it meets the Huisne. Traditionally the capital of the Provinces of France, province of Maine (province), Maine, it is now the capital of ...

and the secret design of the 1.5-litre turbo for Formula One. After some tests, the car fitted with the new and innovative Renault-Gordini EF1 engine, the RS01, debuted at the

1977 British Grand Prix The 1977 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Silverstone on 16 July 1977. It was the tenth race of the 1977 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1977 International Cup for F1 Constructors. The 68-lap race was won from p ...

. In 1980, when Castaing was transferred to other activities within Renault and left Renault Sport, Dudot was appointed Technical Director. In 1986, he led the design of the EF15B power plant, which included for the first time in Formula One the pneumatic valve return, an innovation that would have a major impact on the era of atmospheric engines. At the end of that year, Renault ceased its turbo programme. Soon after, Patrick Faure entrusted to him to design a naturally aspirated engine in view of the regulations that would take effect from 1989. He devised a 3.5-litre V10 that was revolutionary at a time when other manufacturers were betting on the V8 and V12.

Prost Grand Prix, USA interlude and return to Renault

At the end of 1997 Renault left Formula One and Dudot was hired as

Prost Grand Prix Prost Grand Prix was a Formula One racing team owned and managed by four-time Formula One world champion Alain Prost. The team participated in five seasons from 1997 to 2001. The team was the last France, French Formula One team based in France, ...

’s Technical Director on 1 November 1997, but in June 1999 he was replaced by Alan Jenkins. In 2001, he joined

Nissan is a Japanese multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The company sells its vehicles under the ''Nissan'' and ''Infiniti'' brands, and formerly the ''Datsun'' brand, with in-house ...

’s

Infiniti (stylized in all caps) is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Nissan. The brand began on November 8, 1989, initially in North America. The marketing network for Infiniti vehicles included dealers in over 50 countries in the 201 ...

engine programme in the

Indy Racing League IndyCar, LLC (stylized as INDYCAR), is an auto racing Governing body, sanctioning body for American open-wheel car racing headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The organization sanctions two Auto racing, racing series: the premier IndyCar Serie ...

as Project Manager. On 26 February 2003, after some time with Menard, he was rehired by Renault as Deputy Managing Director in charge of the Renault F1 Team's engine department at Viry-Châtillon. He left that position on 1 April 2005 and his functions were divided between Rob White and André Lainé.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dudot, Bernard Living people 1939 births Sportspeople from Nancy, France People from Meurthe-et-Moselle Renault people Nissan people Formula One engine engineers French motorsport people