Renault R27

Renault R27
Race Car
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Renault
Designer	Pat Symonds (Executive Engineer) Bob Bell (Technical Director) James Allison (Deputy Technical Director) Tim Densham (Chief Designer) Martin Tolliday (Project Leader) Tad Czapski (Technology Director) Robin Tuluie (Head of R&D) Dino Toso (Head of Aerodynamics) Rob White (Engine Technical Director)
Predecessor	Renault R26
Successor	Renault R28
Chassis	Carbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque.
Suspension (front)	Carbon-fibre double wishbone, with pushrod and rocker operated inboard torsion bar/damper units.
Suspension (rear)	Carbon-fibre double wishbone with gearbox-mounted vertical torsion bars and horizontal dampers.
Engine	Mecachrome-built Renault RS27 2400cc 90-degree V8. Naturally aspirated, longitudinally-mounted
Electric_motor	{{{Electric motor}}}
Battery	{{{Battery}}}
Power	>750 hp @ 19,000 rpm
Transmission	Renault seven-speed instantaneous shift.
Weight	605 kg (1,334 lb) with driver, camera and ballast
Fuel	Elf Atmo 98.5 RON
Brakes	{{{Brakes}}}
Tyres	Bridgestone
Notable entrants	ING Renault F1 Team
Notable drivers	3. Giancarlo Fisichella 4. Heikki Kovalainen
Debut	2007 Australian Grand Prix
Races competed	17
Race victories	0
Podiums	1
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0

The Renault R27 is a Formula One racing car designed and produced by Renault for the 2007 Formula One season. The chassis was designed by Bob Bell, James Allison, Tim Densham and Dino Toso with Pat Symonds 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 and Heikki Kovalainen.

It made its first public outing on 16 January 2007, at Jerez circuit after completing a short first test at Silverstone the week before.

Aerodynamics

The R27 is outwardly similar to the 2006 R26, with several aerodynamic modifications. 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 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 in the hands of rookie Heikki Kovalainen. 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. By the end of the year, the car was being out-paced by Renault-powered Red Bull, Williams, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Toyota and Honda. Many put this down to the team abandoning its development and focusing on the 2008 car.

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 R27's 2007 livery reflected the team's then-new title sponsor, the ING Group, and consisted of an assortment of colours including orange, white, yellow and dark blue. 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.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WCC
2007	Renault	Renault V8	B		AUS	MAL	BHR	ESP	MON	CAN	USA	FRA	GBR	EUR	HUN	TUR	ITA	BEL	JPN	CHN	BRA	51	3rd
				Giancarlo Fisichella	5	6	8	9	4	DSQ	9	6	8	10	12	9	12	Ret	5	11	Ret
				Heikki Kovalainen	10	8	9	7	13†	4	5	15	7	8	8	6	7	8	2	9	Ret

References

This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Renault R27. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Autopedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.