Renault introduces the Sport R.S. 01, a high-performance competition vehicle

Renault reaffirms its passion for motorsport with the creation of the Renault Sport R.S. 01, a competition vehicle whose design is based on the world of concept cars and the absolute pursuit of aerodynamic downforce, with a spectacular style and performance that goes beyond the norm.

This vehicle features a rear-mid engine and a carbon monocoque weighing less than 1,100 kg, powered by an engine producing more than 500 CV, which allows the Renault Sport R.S. 01 to exceed 300 km/h.

The new competition vehicle from Renault Sport will be one of the stars of the World Series by Renault from 2015, within a brand-new championship, the Renault Sport Trophy, which will serve as a stepping stone to the professional GT and Endurance championships.

From the overall silhouette down to the smallest detail, every line of the design has been driven by a dual objective: to make the Renault Sport R.S. 01 an icon and to contribute to on-track performance, with a design focused on aerodynamic efficiency.

The Renault Sport R.S. 01 boasts an impressive width of 2,000 mm for a height of 1,116 mm, and its presence is further reinforced by the signature daytime LED running lights, which run along the brake cooling ducts.

At the center of the grille, air is “swallowed” and then channeled through the nose of the chassis to the two water radiators. This airflow then exits through the extractors positioned beneath the hood. The resulting low-pressure zone helps increase downforce at the front of the vehicle.

The imposing blade, which feeds the lower splitter and the stepped flat underbody, completes the aerodynamic package at the front. The two fins on the sides of the bumper generate turbulent flows that limit wheel turbulence as the wheels rotate.

With its sculpted contours, the Renault Sport R.S. 01 follows the line of the DeZir concept car presented in 2010. In its preliminary study, designer Akio Shimizu also drew inspiration from the Renault Étoile Filante, the record-breaking car that surpassed 300 km/h on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1956.

Finally, its shape changes along the doors until it becomes intake openings feeding the intercoolers. These components allow optimal cooling of the turbochargers.

Source: Renault