As Renault gear up for their first season since their decision to return to Formula One as a works team, they are able to confirm their game plan for the 2016 season. Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of Groupe Renault, revealed the company’s motorsport plans during an event at the Renault Technocentre in Guyancourt, France. At the core of Renault’s motorsport activities will be the new Renault Sport Formula One Team.
Ghosn was able to announce the official name of Renault’s 2016 Formula One challenger. The chassis was named the Renault R.S.16 and will be developed in the Lotus F1 Team’s former facility in Enstone. The car will feature a Renault R.E.16 power unit. Development for the engine will not be moved to their new Enstone factory, but will remain in Viry-Châtillon. The team posted a teaser photo on their social media accounts earlier in the week and the 2016 livery was confirmed today. The livery features a mostly black body with some yellow elements.
In the sport of Formula One, a great team of personnel is almost equally as important as great racing equipment. Ghosn was able to confirm that Bob Bell would be managing the team of engineers, filling the position of F1 Chief Technical Officer. Bell was the technical director of Renault’s F1 team from 2005 until he left the team at the end 2010. Nick Chester, Chassis Technical Director, and Rémi Taffin, Engine Technical Director, will be working under Bell’s supervision.
With Pastor Maldonado’s future having been confirmed on Monday, Ghosn finally announced the official driver lineup for the 2016 season. Jolyon Palmer will be one of the team’s drivers, as was the plan, with Kevin Magnussen also taking a seat. Esteban Ocon has been appointed the team’s reserve driver for the season.
Having abandoned their partnership with Red Bull, Infiniti will be partnering with Renault. They will be participating in a specific technology program that will help to develop the second generation of energy recovery systems for the current Formula One power units. Total, multinational integrated oil and gas company, will continue their support in Renault’s development. Multinational technology companies, Microsoft and EMC, will remain sponsors with the team. Gravity Motorsports, a shareholder with the team and an affiliate of the Genii Capital Group, will remain involved with the team. The team is also pleased to welcome Bell & Ross, a premium watch supplier, Devialet, a revolutionary audio systems inventor, and Bestseller, a clothing company, as new sponsors for the 2016 season.
“Motorsports still spark the imagination of both enthusiasts and everyday drivers, and we are putting a comprehensive program in place today,” said Carlos Ghosn, chairman and CEO of Groupe Renault. “Formula 1 is a big part of our efforts to boost awareness of Renault, particularly in markets where Renault is a newcomer, and will enhance the transfer of technologies from the track to our road cars.”
Although Formula One is considered their core focus in motorsport, Renault is also happy to continue their involvement in other forms of motorsport. They will continue to participate in Formula-E as the Renault e.dams team. They will also remain active with the various divisions of Formula Renault, as well as other customer racing and rally programmes.
The Renault Sport Academy was also announced. This academy will help to nurture and develop young drivers that can advance to other levels of motorsport within Renault Sport. Four drivers have been accepted into the academy during its foundation: Oliver Rowland, Jack Aitken, Louis Delétraz and Kevin Joerg. The hope is that these drivers will be able to be Formula One champions in the future, through a carefully outlined set of goals.
“Renault has a terrific heritage in motorsport and this is something we are committed to continuing in the future,” explained Guillaume Boisseau, the Brands Director at Groupe Renault. “The Renault Sport Academy enables us to not only develop new talent but also ally this to the actual involvement of our local markets by making the process directly relevant in each country where Renault Sport is present and also giving us a larger catchment area to identify the drivers who will fly our flag at the highest echelons of motorsport in the future.”
Maldonado’s Future Confirmed
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Renault Makes It Official
