Renault R27
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The Renault R27 is a
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 ...
racing car Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. In North America, the term is commonly used to describe all forms of automobile sport including ...
designed and produced by
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 ...
for the
2007 Formula One season The 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 61st season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It began on 18 March and ended on 21 October after seventeen events. The Drivers' Championship was won by Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen by one ...
. The chassis was designed by Bob Bell,
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,
Tim Densham Tim Densham (born 31 March 1955) is a former British Formula One engineer. He was most recently the chief designer at the Renault Formula One team. Biography Densham started his career in motorsport with Team Lotus – the top team at the time ...
and
Dino Toso Dino Vittorio Marcellinus Toso (11 February 1969 – 13 August 2008)
with
Pat Symonds Patrick Bruce Reith Symonds (born 11 June 1953) is a British motor racing engineer, who is currently the executive engineering consultant for the Andretti Cadillac F1 program. He was the Chief Technical Officer at Williams Grand Prix Engineer ...
overseeing the design and production of the car as Executive Director of Engineering and Rob White leading the engine design. The car was driven by
Giancarlo Fisichella Giancarlo "Giano" Fisichella (; born 14 January 1973), also known as Fisico or Fisi, is an Italian racing driver and motorsport executive, who competed in Formula One from to . Fisichella won three Formula One Grands Prix across 14 seasons. Bo ...
and
Heikki Kovalainen Heikki Johannes Kovalainen (; born 19 October 1981) is a Finnish auto racing, racing and rally driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Kovalainen won the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix with McLaren. In sportscar racing, Kovalainen won Super GT ...
. It made its first public outing on 16 January 2007, at
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circuit after completing a short first test at
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the week before.


Aerodynamics

The R27 is outwardly similar to the 2006 R26, with several aerodynamic modifications."Question Marque", Renault R27 launch article, Autosport magazine, 25 January 2007 The front wing design, for example, is very similar to the R26's. One unusual new feature is the placing of the rear view mirrors on the strakes on outer edge of the sidepod, following a concept introduced by
Ferrari Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello. Founded in 1939 by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), the company built Auto Avio Costruzioni 815, its first car in 1940, adopted its current name in 1945, and be ...
on their 2006 car (the 248 F1). Despite the apparent similarities to its predecessor, the R27 did not emulate its results. The car proved to be relatively uncompetitive and the team slumped to fourth, generally being slower than Ferrari, McLaren, and BMW. The R27 failed to score any wins for the first time since 2002 and took only one podium, at the rain-soaked
Japanese Grand Prix The Japanese Grand Prix () is a motor racing event in the calendar of the Formula One World Championship. Historically, Japan has been one of the last races of the season, and as such the Japanese Grand Prix has been the venue for many title-de ...
in the hands of rookie
Heikki Kovalainen Heikki Johannes Kovalainen (; born 19 October 1981) is a Finnish auto racing, racing and rally driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Kovalainen won the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix with McLaren. In sportscar racing, Kovalainen won Super GT ...
. In comparison, the R26 won on its debut and won the 2006 Constructors' and Drivers' championships. The team put the car's uncompetitive form down to an over-reliance on the team's wind tunnel which had shown incorrect readings for how the car would perform, aerodynamically, on the track.Renault 'complacent' about wind tunnel, itv-f1.com,
ITV Sport ITV Sport is the Broadcasting of sports events, sports department of ITV plc, which produces and presents sports programming for the ITV (TV network), ITV network and ITVX. The branding was originally introduced in 1985 as an umbrella title fo ...
, 20 July 2007
By the end of the year, the car was being out-paced by Renault-powered
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, Williams,
Scuderia Toro Rosso Scuderia Toro Rosso SpA (; ), commonly known as Toro Rosso or by its abbreviation STR, was an Italian Formula One constructor. It was one of two Formula One constructors owned by Austrian conglomerate company Red Bull, the other being Red B ...
,
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and
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. Many put this down to the team abandoning its development and focusing on the 2008 car.


Tyre adaptation and balance issues

Tyre manufacturer Michelin, with whom Renault had enjoyed back to back double championships in 2005 and 2006 had called time on its involvement in F1 at the end of the latter of those seasons, meaning Bridgestone would be the sole tyre supplier in the sport for 2007. ESPN suggested in a September 2007 article that Renault's struggle in adapting to using Bridgestone tyres having become used to using Michelin tyres was part of the reason for Renault's poor 2007, whilst Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella suggested the car's biggest problem was the R27s' lack of front downforce.https://www.espn.co.uk/racing/news/story?series=6&id=3005443


Gearbox

The new seven-speed Instantaneous GearChange (ICG) gearbox is Renault's first attempt at a ''seamless shift'' gearbox. It proved to be very reliable with Kovalainen making only one retirement all season, which was due to an accident in the Brazilian Grand Prix.


Livery

The livery reflected the team's then-new title sponsor, the
ING Group ING Group N.V. () is a Dutch multinational corporation, multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered in Amsterdam. Its primary businesses are retail banking, direct banking, commercial banking, investment banking, whol ...
, and consisted of an assortment of colours including orange, white, yellow and dark blue."Renault reveals new look for new era"
itv.com article
, retrieved 24 January 2007
The colour scheme was not positively received by all Formula One fans, however. An interim livery - dark blue and yellow - was used during early test sessions and at the car's official launch in Amsterdam on 24 January.


Gallery

Image:Renault RS27 engine 2007.jpg, Renault RS27 engine. Image:Fisichella R27 British GP 2007.JPG, Pre-race preparations for the 2007 British Grand Prix. Image:Giancarlo Fisichella 2007 Britain.jpg, Fisichella driving the R27 at the British Grand Prix. Image:Heikki Kovalainen 2007 Britain 2.jpg,
Heikki Kovalainen Heikki Johannes Kovalainen (; born 19 October 1981) is a Finnish auto racing, racing and rally driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Kovalainen won the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix with McLaren. In sportscar racing, Kovalainen won Super GT ...
driving the R27 at the British Grand Prix.


Complete Formula One results

( key) (results in bold indicate pole position)


References


Notes

*


External links


ING Renault F1 Team debuts R27 at Jerez

Fisi shakes down new R27

Detailed specification of the R27

{{F1 cars 2007 R27 2007 Formula One season cars