Although we probably won’t see it in North America soon, if ever, Renault’s new R.S. 01 racer is worth dreaming about.
The French automaker calls the R.S. 01 a “radical expression of the brand’s sporting DNA” and “governed by an absolute pursuit of aerodynamic downforce.” That would be putting it mildly considering the R.S. 01 is absolutely breathtaking. Developed by Renaultsport and no doubt inspired by the Alpine concept, Renault’s motorsport division, the R.S. 01 is destined to compete next year.
The Renault R.S. 01 is powered by the Nissan GT-R’s twin-turbocharged V6.
Handout, Nissan
Beneath the sheetmetal is a carbon fibre monocoque chassis, designed and built to LMP1 safety specifications. What does that mean? Essentially, the R.S. 01 is as safe as the top-class racers that compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Given Renault’s partnership with Nissan, the R.S. 01 is powered by the Nissan GT-R’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6, tuned to produce roughly 500 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque.
We probably won’t see it in North America, but the Renault R.S. 01 is worth dreaming about.
Handout, Renault
But there’s a twist — unlike the GT-R, the 3.8-litre V6 is mounted in the middle for optimal weight distribution, while is also sent to just the rear wheels using a seven-speed sequential manual transmission.
The R.S. 01 also sports the requisite chassis tweaks, including a double-wishbone suspension with adjustable dampers, carbon-ceramic brakes and lightweight 18-inch wheels with sticky Michelin tires. All in, Renault says the R.S. 01 tips the scales at about 1,088 kilograms and tops out at about 300 km/h.
