Renault R29

Renault R29
Category Formula One
Constructor Renault
Designer(s) Bob Bell (Technical Director)
James Allison (Assistant TD)
Pat Symonds (Engineering Director)
Tim Densham (Chief Designer)
Dirk de Beer (Chief Aerodynamicist)
Predecessor Renault R28
Successor Renault R30
Technical specifications[1][2]
Chassis Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, with engine incorporated as a fully stressed member.
Suspension (front) Carbon fibre double wishbone, operating inboard torsion bar and damper units via a pushrod system.
Suspension (rear) As front.
Length 4,800 mm (190 in)
Width 1,800 mm (71 in)
Height 950 mm (37 in)
Axle track Front: 1,450 mm (57 in)
Rear: 1,400 mm (55 in)
Engine Renault F1 RS27 2,400 cc (146.5 cu in) 90° V8 with KERS, limited to 18,000 RPM, naturally aspirated, mid-mounted.
Transmission Seven-speed semi-automatic carbon-titanium gearbox with reverse gear. "Quickshift" system.
Fuel Total
Tyres Bridgestone Potenza
Competition history
Notable entrants ING Renault F1 Team
Renault F1 Team
Notable drivers 7. Spain Fernando Alonso
8. Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr.
8. France Romain Grosjean
Debut 2009 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
170112

The Renault R29 is a Formula One racing car designed by the Renault F1 Team, with which they contested the 2009 Formula One World Championship (originally as ING Renault F1 Team, then, following loss of title sponsorship from the ING Group after "Crashgate", Renault F1 Team). Coming off a resurgent second half of the previous year, the team expected to be fighting for both the drivers and constructors titles. Instead, the car proved to be disappointing. Fernando Alonso scored all of the team's 26 points. In the hands of either of Alonso's team mates, the car was often towards the back of the field with Nelson Piquet, Jr. and Romain Grosjean often failing to reach Q2. Unlike many other 2009 cars that began the year uncompetitively, such as the McLaren MP4-24, the R29 showed no sign of improvement throughout the season, and arguably became less competitive over the course of the year, despite Alonso's third place in Singapore, which was Renault's only podium finish of the season.

Launch

The R29 was launched on 19 January 2009 at the Algarve circuit in Portugal.[3][4]

Testing

Initial testing was conducted at the Portimao circuit along with rivals Williams, McLaren, Toyota and Toro Rosso from 19 January 2009 to 22 January 2009. Nelson Piquet, Jr. was scheduled to drive for the first two days, followed by Fernando Alonso on the final two.[5]

Nelson Piquet, Jr. driving the R29 at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix.

Sponsorship

ING Group initially remained the team's primary sponsor, carrying over from 2008. However, in the wake of the Renault Formula One crash controversy, ING terminated their contract with immediate effect. Their logo on the car simply being replaced by the word Renault from the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix onwards. French oil company Elf Aquitaine was replaced as a team partner by Elf's parent company, Total S.A., adding red accents to the car's livery[6] There is still an Elf logo on the engine cover.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
2009 ING Renault F1 Team Renault RS27 V8 B AUS MAL CHN BHR ESP MON TUR GBR GER HUN EUR BEL ITA SIN JPN BRA ABU 26 8th
Fernando Alonso 5 11 9 8 5 7 10 14 7 Ret 6 Ret 5 3 10 Ret 14
Nelson Piquet, Jr. Ret 15 16 10 12 Ret 16 12 13 12
Romain Grosjean 15 Ret 15 Ret 16 13 18

References

  1. ↑ "Renault F1 R29 Technical Specifications". Renault F1 Team Official Website. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  2. ↑ "Renault F1 RS27 Technical Specifications". Renault F1 Team Official Website. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  3. ↑ "Renault and Williams debut new cars in Portugal". formula1.com. 2009-01-19. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  4. ↑ "Renault unveil the new R29". autosport.com. 2009-01-19. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  5. ↑ "R29 breaks cover in Portugal". ing-renaultf1.com. 2009-01-19. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  6. ↑ "F1 : Renault set to unveil the R29". F1-Live.com. 2009-01-19. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
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