Renault Sport R.S. 01
 | |||||
| Category | Group GT3 (originally in one-make racing) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Renault Sport | ||||
| Designer(s) | Akio Shimizu (under management from Laurens van den Acker and Éric Diemert) | ||||
| Technical specifications | |||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fiber monocoque by Dallara, steel roll cage, and crashboxes based on 2014's FIA LMP1 regulations | ||||
| Suspension (front) | Double unequal-length wishbones, pushrods, and Öhlins two-way adjustable dampers | ||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double unequal-length wishbones, pushrods, and Öhlins two-way adjustable dampers | ||||
| Length | 4,710 mm (185 in) | ||||
| Width | 2,000 mm (79 in) | ||||
| Height | 1,116 mm (44 in) | ||||
| Wheelbase | 2,744 mm (108 in) | ||||
| Engine | Nismo-tuned VR38DETT 3.8 L (3,800 cc) twin-turbocharged 24-valve V6 on a mid-mounted longitudinal central configuration | ||||
| Transmission | Sadev 7-speed sequential transmission with limited-slip differential | ||||
| Weight |
1,145 kg (2,524 lb) (RST) 1,270 kg (2,800 lb) (GT3) | ||||
| Fuel | Elf | ||||
| Tyres |
Michelin 30/68 R18 front 31/71 R18 rear | ||||
| Competition history | |||||
| Notable entrants |
     | ||||
| Notable drivers |
    | ||||
| Debut | Circuit Ricardo Tormo | ||||
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The Renault Sport R.S. 01 is a racing car manufactured by Renault Sport, performance division of Renault. The car's platform is based on the Renault DeZir. The R.S. 01 was originally used to compete in Renault Sport Trophy, Renault's one-make racing series, but was expanded to GT3. The R.S. 01 is the most powerful one-make racer built by Renault, and is the only one that is not based on a production car.
The build process of the car is at least five months.[1]
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2014 Moscow International Automobile Salon.[2]
Design
Akio Shimizu, Japanese automobile designer of Renault in Guyancourt, France, designed the car, under the management of Laurens van den Acker and Éric Diemert, the design manager and design director, respectively.
The design of the R.S. 01 is similar to that of a GT supercar with a design that is low-slung and aerodynamic (for a GT-spec race car).[3] The design of the R.S. 01 also has imbalanced overhangs due to the vehicle's architecture and weight distribution and the design is similar to the Renault DeZir, a concept car from 2010.
According to Éric Diemert, the car was intended to have a design reach beyond the regular process, in a way to make it a more unique and iconic model among Renault models, and that the process of the R.S. 01 is "similar to designing a concept car".[1]
Specifications
The R.S. 01 has a 3.8-liter VR38DETT twin-turbocharged 24-valve V6 engine sourced from the Nissan GT-R. The engine has been slightly modified to allow for a mid-engined configuration. This configuration is also longitudinal central. The engine has a redline of 6800 rpm, and has been tuned to 550 hp (410 kW; 558 PS) and 443 lb⋅ft (601 N⋅m). This power runs through a 7-speed sequential transmission manufactured by Sadev, with long-lasting, anti-stall functioning clutch plates from ZF. The differential is a limited slip variety.
The chassis is a carbon fiber monocoque with a steel roll cage, all by Dallara. There are also crashboxes which are based on the FIA LMP1 regulations from 2014. All of the bodywork is made of composite.
The brake discs are from company Performance Friction, and measure 380 mm (15 in) that are made of carbon fiber, and are paired with 6-piston calipers. The ABS system is made by Bosch. The rims are manufactured by Braid, and are wrapped by Michelin tires, specific tires that were constructed for the R.S. 01. It has 30/68 R18 at the front, and 31/71 R18 at the rear.
The suspension, both front and rear, are double wishbone pushrods, with two-way adjustable dampers from Öhlins.
Electronic management is from Pectel, with their SQ6M system with traction control. Data acquisition comes from Cosworth's ICD Pro system.
The vehicle's top speed is over 186 mph (300 km/h).[1]
Motorsport
Renault Sport Trophy
The R.S.01’s main area of competition was in Renault's own Renault Sport Trophy until the series had permanently shut down in 2016 due to low interest from teams and viewers alike.[4]
Group GT3
In 2015, Renault decided to expand the R.S. 01 to Group GT3 racing.[5]
Due to the shift, Renault detuned the car and added weight. The engine's power was decreased to 500 hp (373 kW; 507 PS), but with the torque remaining the same. The car got a 125 kg (276 lb) increase in weight from its heavier chassis and new ballast. The original carbon-ceramic brakes have been swapped out with steel rotor varieties. The ride height was also raised, and the aerodynamics have been changed to comply with GT3 regulations.
Testing for homologation began in the same year, in the Circuit Paul Ricard track. The promoter of the GT Tour racing organization and founder and team principal of the Oreca racing team, Hugues de Chaunac, agreed to homologate the car after testing. This homologation comes from the SRO motorsport organization.
The R.S. 01's first series was in the FFSA GT Championship. The car debuted in the same track it was tested in, Circuit Paul Ricard. Two cars were used, by teams Boutsen-Ginion Racing and Duqueine Engineering, both running in the "Open" classification. The car eventually debuted later in the International GT Open, with team Monlau Competición.
In 2016, even more teams used the R.S. 01, and expansion to other organizations followed. The car expanded into the V de V Sports series and the 24H Series with AB Sport Auto (this team participated for both organizations), Boutsen-Ginion Racing, V8 Racing, Duqueine Engineering, and Equipe Verschuur behind the wheel.
The constructor's first major win came in at the 12 Hours of Italy at the 24H Series, with team V8 Racing and drivers Luc and Max Braams, Nicky Pastorelli, and Miguel Ramos. Two other teams participated in the same race as well, these being Equipe Verschuur and Boutsen-Ginion Racing, both finishing fifth and 36th position. Duqueine Engineering took part later in the season for the 24 Hours of Barcelona, and had finished 11th position.
Another expansion was made, this time, in the International GT Open. V8 Racing had run two cars and made several wins throughout the season. The R.S. 01's biggest win (so far) in its history was made in the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps race in May 2016, winning in both the Pro-Am and Am classifications.
The R.S. 01 continued to race in 2017 for the GT3 class, with team GP Extreme, finishing ninth position, second in its classification (A6-Am).
24 Hours of Nürburgring
| Year | Team | Drivers | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | |
|
SP-X | 88 | Ret | Ret |
| 2018 | |
 |
SP-X | 127 | 23rd | 2nd |
Media
The R.S. 01 has been featured in various auto shows, the first one being the 2014 Moscow International Automobile Salon.
The one-make version of the R.S. 01 has also been featured in several video games, both console and mobile including Real Racing 3, Asphalt 8: Airborne, Project Cars, and Driveclub. The GT3 version has been featured in Gran Turismo Sport and Project CARS 2.[6]
R.S. 01 Interceptor Concept
In early 2016, Renault created a police interceptor version of the R.S. 01 with a full police livery, neon green striping, and the regular police strobe lights.[7]
In the same month, Renault released a video with the R.S. 01 in action with WRC racing veteran Jean Ragnotti behind the wheel, chasing a speeding motorbike through a highway.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 "Renault R.S. 01 - Car Body Design". www.carbodydesign.com. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
- ↑ "REVEALED: meet race car Renault Sport R.S. 01, unveiled at the Moscow International Automobile Salon". group.renault.com. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
- ↑ "Renault Sport R.S. 01: A Racing Car Of Spectacular Design Built For Performance". RenaultSport.com. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ↑ Orlove, Raphael. "Renault Cancels Spec Series With Incredible Car That Really Should Be Road Legal". Jalopnik. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
- ↑ "Renault RS 01 GT3 - the only French car in the international GT competitions". SnapLap.com. Retrieved 2017-03-14.
- ↑ "IGCD.net: Renault Sport R.S. 01 in video games". www.igcd.net. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
- ↑ "Renault's Sport RS 01 Interceptor uses Nissan GT-R power to hunt for baddies". DigitalTrends.com. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ↑ "Renault Sport R.S. 01 INTERCEPTOR: a new rapid intervention force". YouTube.com (Renault Sport). Retrieved 2013-03-13.