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Renaultsport R.S. 01 Racecar Adds Weight and Loses Power, but It’s All for the Better

Renaultsport’s R.S 01 racecar has just gone through a downgrade treatment. You know, stuff like gaining weight, losing power, adding drag, and decreasing downforce. Last time we checked, all these measures brought inferior performance, so how can such a move be positive?
Renaultsport R.S. 01 4 photos
Photo: Renaultsport
Renaultsport R.S. 01Renaultsport R.S. 01Renaultsport R.S. 01
Yes, we are still on the right medicine, and we want to explain that the changes listed above are part of a program that sees the R.S. 01 expanding its reach past its current World Series by Renault one-make series.

The racecar has been modified to compete in the FFSA, the French Grand Touring racing series. To put things shortly, the R.S. 01 has been downgraded to a GT3 specification.

Allow us to get into the details of the transformation. It all starts with the carbon brakes being replaced by steel units. And while this adds 25 kg, an extra 50 kg of ballast was added.

The ride height was increased, while the engine received a restriction. We’ll remind you the R.S. 01 is powered by a remastered Nissan GT-R engine, but the exact effect of the change has not been mentioned.

The aerodynamics of the racecar were also altered, with the R.S. 01 losing downforce and adding drag.

Since the genesis of the Renault Sport R.S. 01, the interest in our creation has been keen among teams and promoters. The success of the Renaultsport Trophy in the World Series by Renault has confirmed this trend. As competitors, we are extremely enthusiastic about the idea of seeing the R.S. 01 take on the competition. No doubt, it will turn heads among both drivers and spectators. We are extremely grateful in the confidence that Hugues de Chaunac has shown in us and this drives us to continue our discussions with other championships,” Jean-Pascal Dauce, Renault Sport Technologies Motorsport Director, said.

Earlier this week, we had the chance to talk to a Renaultsport official about the R.S. 01 and we were told to expect expansion. Who knows, perhaps we’ll get to see even more next year.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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