Renault wheels out 500hp racer

Renault is holding nothing back with its new RS 01 racer, which will contest next year's nine-round, one-make Renault Sport Trophy series.

Designed by Renault style guru Laurens van den Acker and using a motorsport tub designed and built by Italian chassis manufacturer Dallara, the carbon-fibre monocoque RS 01 tips the scales at less than 1100kg.

What's more, it's also powered by a mid-mounted, dry-sump version of the Nissan GT-R’s twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6. Power outputs are slightly lower than the Nissan version: Renault says the RS 01 produces 373kW and 600Nm of torque.

It has been designed to comply with LMP1 (Le Mans Prototype) regulations and the performance is described by Renault as being something between a GT3 sports car and a DTM touring car.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Sadev seven-speed sequential gearbox to a limited-slip differential, while braking is attended to by 380mm carbon-fibre discs using six-piston callipers.

With Michelin-shod 18-inch wheels providing the traction, the extravagant Renault is suspended on two-way adjustable-damper double-wishbone suspension front and rear, and measures 4710mm long, 2000mm wide and 1116mm high, with a wheelbase of 2744mm. The fuel tank holds 150 litres.

Van den Acker’s styling inspirations are said to come from both the gullwing DeZir concept car seen at the 2010 Paris motor show and the Etoile Filante (shooting star) land speed record car that recorded a top speed of 300km/h at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1956.
Although the RS 01 is a pure racer, van den Acker was careful to imbue it with clear Renault styling signatures such as the diamond badge in the open grille, and the LED running lights arcing down from the headlights through to the outer air ducts.

There’s also the obligatory rear diffuser, LED lighting and dual rear exhausts, while the blatantly purposeful rear wing looks ready to play a part forcing the lightweight projectile firmly onto the track.

According to Eric Diemert, who is the design director for Renault Sport Technologies, “Renault Sport Technologies wanted to develop a car exploring a new dimension in performance. So it was important for this impetus to be visible in design.

"Also, the reach of Renault Sport RS 01 had to extend beyond the range to make it an iconic brand model. This is why it looks nothing like a production vehicle. The process was similar to designing a concept car in terms of the freedom enjoyed by the team, so that was really exciting.”

The Renault Sport Trophy one-make championship is contested on tracks including Monza, Spa-Francorchamps and the Nurburgring and is part of the World Series by Renault from 2015, intended as a gateway to the GT, DTM, ELMS Le Mans series and WEC endurance championships.

The Renault RS 01 is on sale in Europe now, for the equivalent of $A500,000. Several race teams are reported to have already expressed interest.