by Mick Pittman | Jan 9, 2014 | Renault UK News
Share The Spark-Renault SRT_01E made its first dynamic public appearance in Las Vegas, USA, in front of a crowd of technology fans at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The car was in the hands of Brazilian racing driver Lucas di Grassi who drove along the Las Vegas Strip before moving on to Mandalay Bay in the centre of the city. The 100% electric Spark-Renault SRT_01E single-seater race car performed its first public demonstration run in Las Vegas, USA, on Monday 6 January The event was held in conjunction with the International CES, a global consumer electronics and technology trade show Following its presentation at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013, and its debut track run at La Ferté Gaucher, near Paris, France, the Spark-Renault SRT_01E broke new ground by making its first dynamic public appearance The demonstration run was confirmation that the visionary idea of fully-electric single-seater race cars is today very much a reality to which Renault, as a technical partner, has made a significant contribution thanks not only to its winning record in motor racing, but also to the lead it enjoys in the world of electric vehicles. Renault Sport Technologies CEO Patrice Ratti, said: “Everybody at Renault is very proud that we were able to show the 100% electric Spark-Renault race car in driving conditions for a very tech-savvy crowd in Las Vegas. The work that has been done by all technical partners over the last few months has been fantastic and the car lives up to Renault’s high competition standards. We are very happy about the result so far and our engineers will keep working...
by Mick Pittman | Jan 9, 2014 | Renault UK News
Share Ferodo Racing, one of the globe’s premier specialist brake pad brands, has today, Thursday, 9th January, confirmed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the flourishing Michelin Clio Cup Race Series and Michelin Clio Cup Road Series. As each of the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) led categories prepare to embark on their first year as fully-fledged championships, organisers are delighted to welcome the Italian manufacturer as a key partner for the next three seasons. “Ferodo is a fabulous name to have connected to the Series alongside title sponsor Michelin and is an excellent racing product”, said Clio Cup Series promoter Simon North, “I’m delighted to start the year with this news and very much looking forward to helping promote the Ferodo brand.” In line with the new sponsorship deal, all cars in the Michelin Clio Cup Race Series and Michelin Clio Cup Road Series will use Ferodo D1.11 brake pads which will be sold trackside by Renaultsport UK’s official parts supplier R.Sport. Drivers setting the fastest lap during the first race of a weekend in each division of the Series will also be rewarded with a free axle set of pads as part of the ‘Ferodo Fastest Lap’ prize. Additionally, each car will carry Ferodo Racing branding on its doors. Based in Mondovi, Italy, Ferodo Racing produces competition brake pads in a specialised racing cell to the highest international quality standards – ISO16949 and 14001. Continually developing new materials with great innovations, Ferodo Racing delivers leading-edge products at the very forefront of brake technology. The new deal with Ferodo Racing ties-in neatly with Michelin’s three-year headline sponsorship of the Race...
by Mick Pittman | Jan 3, 2014 | Renault UK News
NEW CLIO CUP CARS READY FOR 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP Share As the New Year dawns and preparations gather momentum for the 2014 Renault UK Clio Cup season, the first to feature the latest generation turbo-charged racing Clio, championship organisers are pleased to confirm 15 of the new cars are ready to race in the flagship British category – with more anticipated to join prior to the opening event of the season. With almost three months still remaining until the start of the new campaign, the ante-chamber to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship looks set to be as popular as ever as existing and newcomer driver-owners and teams continue to place orders for the sensational 1.6-litre Clio. Category race winner Lee Pattison is the latest driver to purchase the fourth generation car, joining the likes of Masters Cup stalwart Finlay Crocker who was the first competitor from the Renault UK Clio Cup to take delivery of one of the new Renault Clios. Reigning and multiple title winning squad Team Pyro, which took a clean sweep of championship crowns last season, has purchased five new Clios for its Renault UK Clio Cup operation with the rebranded SV Racing – formerly Scuderia Vittoria – buying two cars and 20Ten Racing securing three of the 2014 specification machines. Mainstay entrants Total Control Racing and JHR Developments have each purchased one car apiece while championship newcomer, and motorsport returnee, Daniel Rowbottom has already begun testing his Clio which will be run under the DRM Motorsport banner. “We’re delighted we have 15 new Clios ready to race in this year’s Renault UK Clio Cup,...
by Mick Pittman | Jan 1, 2013 | Renault UK News
Hot on the heels of the brand new Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo road car unveiled at the Paris Motor Show last month, Renault UK is delighted to confirm its intention for the competition version of the fourth-generation Clio to appear in Britain for the 2014 motor racing season. As the current domestic championship prepares to reach its conclusion at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit this weekend on 20th/21st October, work is underway behind the scenes to ensure a smooth transition to the brand new turbo-powered car which will debut in Europe next year. During initial testing, which began in early August and has so far covered around 3,500 kilometres at a variety of French circuits, lap times have been roughly one second per lap faster than the existing normally-aspirated 2.0-litre Clio Cup car. Featuring a 1.6-litre turbo-powered engine tuned by Oreca Magny-Cours and sealed at source, developing 220hp and 270Nm of torque, the new Clio Cup racer has a six-speed sequential gearbox with an AP Racing clutch and limited slip differential. There is also the option for a paddle-shift gear change. High performance braking is guaranteed with 320mm AP Racing front discs and four-piston callipers, while the suspension features one-way adjustable dampers from ZF-Sachs with specific aluminium wishbones. Electronically, the complete data acquisition system is integrated into the TFT full colour dash display. Aerodynamically the car boasts a highly efficient rear wing, offering 40kg of downforce at 125mph, with the addition of a roof scoop similar to the one on the current Clio Cup. Enhanced safety features are, of course, a pre-requisite while the car sits on 17-inch Speedline...
by Mick Pittman | Jan 1, 2013 | Renault UK News
Renault and Caterham Group announce a partnership to design and build sports cars Renault and Caterham Group today announced their decision to join forces in pursuit of a common project: to design develop and build future sports cars. This agreement reflects a similar passion and expertise in sports and competition cars The future vehicles will be distinctive, differentiated, and carry the respective DNA of Alpine and Caterham Cars, the automotive division of Caterham Group. They will be built at the Alpine plant in Dieppe, Normandy, in France The Caterham Group will own a 50% stake in the Automobiles Alpine Renault company, currently 100 % held by Renault SAS. The Société des Automobiles Alpine Caterham, that will result from this partnership, will be created in January 2013. It will be managed by Bernard Ollivier This project, which ensures the Dieppe plant a sustainable future, was made possible thanks to the incentive and to the substantial support and commitment provided by the French State and the Région Haute Normandie which also involved the contribution of Dieppe Maritime For Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Renault: “This innovative partnership with Caterham embodies a longstanding ambition: the creation of a sports car with the Alpine DNA. It carries both opportunities for the Dieppe plant and the development of its historic expertise.” For Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group Chairman: “I have not felt as excited about a new venture since I launched AirAsia in 2001 and I want to thank Carlos Ghosn and Carlos Tavares and everyone in our new Renault family for having the belief in Caterham Group to create this partnership....
by Mick Pittman | Jan 1, 2013 | Renault UK News
Renault UK is delighted to announce the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) has been appointed the new promoter of the Renault UK Clio Cup for 2013 with Simon North making a return to the role of Championship Manager. The Thruxton-based BARC takes the helm of the popular Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship support category, as preparations for the 2013 season get well underway. An eight-weekend, 16-race calendar for next season is confirmed with the Renault UK Clio Cup running alongside the BTCC at each of its events, with the exception of the trip north of the border to Knockhill in late August and the visit to Silverstone at the end of September. Therefore, this means the 2013 Renault UK Clio Cup season will commence at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on 30th/31st March before travelling to Donington Park, Thruxton, Oulton Park, Croft, Snetterton and Rockingham, prior to the return to Brands Hatch – this time on the full Grand Prix Circuit – for the grand finale over the weekend 12th/13th October. Also new for next season will be the arrival of Dunlop as the official tyre partner for Clio Cup, the start of a multi-year agreement which brings the championship even more in-line with the BTCC. With everything in place to ensure a smooth 2013, prior to the arrival of the brand new Clio Renaultsport 200 Turbo race car the following year, Renault UK has high hopes for a classic swansong season for the existing third generation Clio Cup car. “We’re absolutely delighted to have agreed for BARC to become the promoter of the Renault UK Clio Cup, and...
