Renault will power Caterham F1 for three additional seasons
Renault has just announced via press release the officialization of its partnership with the Caterham team for the next three Formula 1 seasons. The Caterham team will thus be powered by the French manufacturer's V6 engine starting next year and at least until 2016. Renault has been supplying engines to the yellow and green team since 2011.
Starting from next season, Caterham F1 Team will use the Renault Energy F1, designed to meet the radical change in technical regulations. Combining a turbo V6 with direct injection and two generators that harvest energy dissipated by exhaust gases and brakes, the Energy F1 draws its power from both mechanical and electrical energy. When the systems return the recovered energy, the total power will be greater than that of the current V8, while being 35% more efficient to comply with the limits set by technical and sporting regulations, namely a fuel flow of less than 100 kg/h and a maximum fuel quantity of 100 kg per race.
The Anglo-Malaysian team and the French manufacturer have been partners since the start of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2011. The Renault RS27 V8 engine has been powering the team’s racing cars since that time.
Jean-Michel Jalinier, President and CEO of Renault Sport F1, says: « We have seen Caterham mature over the last three years. Their new facilities are impressive and they have a solid technical structure. The 2014 regulations are a big challenge, but change brings opportunities. For this team, the next season will be a great opportunity to achieve their following objectives. From the very beginning, our partnership has been very open and it is natural that we want to reap the rewards. We are satisfied with the value and involvement of the teams we will provide and we are eager to see the first generation of Energy F1-powered cars take to the track. »
Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal of Caterham F1 Team, adds: « This announcement is obviously excellent news for our F1 team. It is based on the solid and deep ties created between our two entities since 2011, and more specifically with the production car project launched in 2012 between Caterham and Alpine, which is now at an advanced stage of its development.
The 2014 season marks a new era for F1. Our sport is about to make a leap forward by aligning with the technical changes taking place in the automotive industry, and Renault is at the forefront of these developments. When our partnership began in 2011, we were – as a young team – impressed by the various operational benefits that this collaboration brought us. Since then, we continue to make progress. Given the age and status of our structure, we have also been delighted to see that Renault Sport F1 has adapted its operational procedures to our size, and that integration has been optimized through enriched technical collaboration. We work together, openly and honestly, to enable Caterham F1 Team to achieve its short-term goal of establishing itself as a significant player in F1 and to help Renault gain recognition for its cutting-edge technical level.
The depth of our partnership will allow us to quickly and effectively navigate the new regulations, and we will certainly reap the benefits. This will help give us the best chances of continuing our progression within the hierarchy in the coming seasons.
According to a Renault F1 Sport press release
