Renault R27

Renault R27
	Heikki Kovalainen driving the R27 at the 2007 British Grand Prix
Category	Formula One
Constructor	Renault
Designer(s)	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	R26
Successor	R28
Technical specifications
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.
Length	4,800 mm (189 in)
Width	1,800 mm (71 in)
Height	950 mm (37 in)
Axle track	1,450 mm (57 in) (front); 1,400 mm (55 in) (rear)
Wheelbase	3,100 mm (122 in)
Engine	Mecachrome-built Renault RS27 2.4 L (146 cu in) V8 90° naturally aspirated, mid engined, longitudinally-mounted
Transmission	Renault seven-speed + reverse instantaneous shift
Power	>750 hp @ 19,000 rpm
Weight	605 kg (1,334 lb) with driver, camera and ballast
Fuel	Elf Atmo 98.5 RON
Lubricants	Elf Evolution 900 SXR
Tyres	Bridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrants	ING Renault F1 Team
Notable drivers	3. Giancarlo Fisichella; 4. Heikki Kovalainen
Debut	2007 Australian Grand Prix
Last event	2007 Brazilian Grand Prix
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	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.^[1] 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.^[2] By the end of the year, the car was being out-paced by Renault-powered Red Bull, Williams, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Toyota and Honda.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[1] 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.^[3] The colour scheme was not positively received by all Formula One fans, however.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[4]

Gallery

Renault RS27 engine.
Pre-race preparations for the 2007 British Grand Prix.
Fisichella driving the R27 at the British Grand Prix.
Heikki Kovalainen driving the R27 at the British Grand Prix.

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

^ ^a ^b "Question Marque", Renault R27 launch article, Autosport magazine, 25 January 2007
^ Renault 'complacent' about wind tunnel, itv-f1.com, ITV Sport, 20 July 2007
^ "Renault reveals new look for new era", itv.com article Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 24 January 2007
^ "New Renault breaks cover in Jerez". www.formula1.com. 16 January 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2020.