autoevolution
 

Renault Returned to Bonneville to Celebrate An Old Speed Record, Sets New One

Renault has decided to celebrate one of its old achievements, a speed record set at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, in 1956.
The Etoile Filante and Renault Dauphine tread American soil 10 photos
Photo: Renault
Etoile Filante & Renault DauphineRenault DauphineRenault DauphineEtoile FilanteEtoile FilanteEtoile FilanteEtoile FilanteEtoile FilanteEtoile Filante
The French brand went there at the time to mark the launch of the beautiful Renault Dauphine in the United States of America. Back on September 5, 1956, the Renault Etoile Filante clocked up a speed of 308.9 km/h (192 mph) and established four new world records, out of which two still stand today.

The Etoile Filante (it means shooting star in French) was an experimental car built on a tubular structure and fitted with a polyester body and a turbine engine. We are not referring to a turbocharged motor, but to a small turbine unit like those used by some helicopters.

At the time, the Etoile Filante project was managed by Fernand Picard, with the aid of engine specialist Albert Lory, and driven by test driver and engineer Jean Hebert.

The turbine engine was developed by Turbomeca, a company that specialized in this sort of thing, and the one used by the Shooting Star delivered about 270 HP.

The record-setting attempt included reaching 192 mph (308.9 km/h) over a kilometer (0.6 miles), as well as the same speed over five kilometers (3.1 miles). While the 0.6-mile record was broken, the second one, for 3.1 miles, still stands. We find it curious that nobody attempted to break it.

As some of you already know, turbine technology was being tested by several automakers at the time, but it never caught on because of the heat it generated. Moreover, its massive lag at low driving speeds was an upsetting problem that could not be overcome.

Renault wanted to celebrate the old record by bringing a classic, race-ready, Dauphine to the Bonneville Salt Flats. The French brand scheduled the visit during the famous Bonneville Speed Week, held from 13-19 August this year. During a run, FIA Formula E driver Nicolas Prost, hired by Renault e.dams, set a new class record for 123.1 km/h (76.5 mph).

You are probably thinking that driving 76.5 mph is nothing, even for a car built in 1956. However, we are writing about a class record, set for the “CGC” group with engines of capacity between 754 cubic centimeters and 1,015 cubic centimeters. Since the Renault Dauphine has a 956-cubic centimeter engine, it fits the class entirely.

The group also has the “Classic” particle, meaning that you cannot break the record with a smart fortwo or something, as the vehicle must have been built between 1928 and 1981. The record-breaking run was clocked in the morning of August 14, 2016, and was scrutinized by race officials at 76.541 mph.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
press release
About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories