Renault R24
Renault R24B
Fernando Alonso driving the R24 at the 2004 Canadian Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorRenault
Designer(s)Pat Symonds (Executive Engineer)
Mike Gascoyne (Technical Director)
Bob Bell (Deputy Technical Director)
Tim Densham (Chief Designer)
Mark Smith (Project Leader)
Tad Czapski (Head of R&D)
Dino Toso (Head of Aerodynamics)
Bernard Dudot (Engine Technical Director)
PredecessorR23
SuccessorR25
Technical specifications
ChassisMoulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Carbon-fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard titanium rocker via a pushrod system
Suspension (rear)Titanium top and carbon-fibre bottom wishbones operating vertically-mounted torsion bars and horizontally-mounted damper units mounted on the top of the gearbox casing
EngineRenault RS24, mid-engined 3.0 litre V10 (72°)
TransmissionTitanium longitudinal, semi-automatic sequential paddle-shift, 6-speed + 1 reverse
Power880-900 hp @ 19,000 rpm[1][2]
FuelElf
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsMild Seven Renault F1 Team
Notable drivers7. Italy Jarno Trulli
7. Canada Jacques Villeneuve
8. Spain Fernando Alonso
Debut2004 Australian Grand Prix
First win2004 Monaco Grand Prix
Last win2004 Monaco Grand Prix
Last event2004 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
18130
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The Renault R24 is a Formula One car that competed in the 2004 Formula One season.

Design and development

The chassis was designed by Mike Gascoyne, Bob Bell,[3] Tim Densham and Dino Toso with Pat Symonds overseeing the design and production of the car as executive director of Engineering and Bernard Dudot leading the engine design.

R24B

Renault brought a new, updated R24B model to San Marino Grand Prix, featuring new cylinder heads, inlet system and related changes to the bottom part of the engine.[4][5]

Racing history

The car showed speed and reliability during the season, managing to outpace both the Williams and McLaren, as well as proving to be a consistent challenger to the equally fast BAR Hondas of Jenson Button and Takuma Sato. However, it was routinely bested by the Ferrari F2004 of Michael Schumacher & Rubens Barrichello, as the Ferrari duo won 15 of the 18 races in 2004. Going into the season, Renault announced that the driver line-up was Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso.

Fernando Alonso driving the R24 at the 2004 United States Grand Prix.

The team became real contenders for second place in the Constructors' Championship when Trulli and Alonso placed third and fourth respectively during the Spanish Grand Prix.[6] Trulli won the Monaco Grand Prix. However, his relationship with Renault (particularly with team principal and Trulli's ex-manager Flavio Briatore) deteriorated after he was consistently off the pace in the latter half of the year, and made claims[7] of favouritism in the team towards Alonso (though the two teammates themselves remained friendly).

The French Grand Prix is considered the final straw for Renault, where Trulli was overtaken by Rubens Barrichello in the final stages of the last lap, costing Renault a double podium finish at their home Grand Prix.[8] Trulli was later fired after failing to score points in 5 successive races. After that, he announced that he was joining Toyota F1 for the following year and in fact left Renault early, driving the Toyota in the last two races of the 2004 season.

Hoping to secure second place in the Constructors' Championship, Renault replaced Trulli with 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve for the final three races. However, Villeneuve — away from F1 racing for almost an entire season — struggled to acclimatize quickly to racing at the premier level and did not impress, and the team finished third behind Villeneuve's former team BAR with 105 points.

Renault used 'Mild Seven' logos, except at the Canadian, French and British Grands Prix.

Use in Top Gear

The R24 was "loaned" to The Stig for an episode of Top Gear. Renault claimed it would go around the Top Gear Test Track in less than one minute; the R24 got around in 59.0 seconds.[9] It was later revealed by Renault that the R24 was drove not by the regular Stig, but rather their test driver Heikki Kovalainen, disguised as the Stig.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Points WCC
2004 Renault F1 Renault V10 M AUS MAL BHR SMR ESP MON EUR CAN USA FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA CHN JPN BRA 105 3rd
Italy Jarno Trulli 7 5 4 5 3 1 4 Ret 4 4 Ret 11 Ret 9 10
Spain Fernando Alonso 3 7 6 4 4 Ret 5 Ret Ret 2 10 3 3 Ret Ret 4 5 4
Canada Jacques Villeneuve 11 10 10

References

  1. ↑ "Engine Renault". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Bore and stroke on early 2000,s V10 engines - F1technical.net".
  3. ↑ "Renault R24 - F1technical.net". www.f1technical.net. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  4. ↑ "Renault R24B". www.f1technical.net. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "Rob White on Renault's revised V10". www.formula1.com. Archived from the original on 2004-08-11. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  6. ↑ "Spanish GP: Renault race notes". us.motorsport.com. 2004-05-11. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  7. ↑ Staff (2004-09-15). "Trulli sacked by Renault". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  8. ↑ "Trulli mad as Renault go back to the future with Fisichella". The Guardian. 2004-07-31. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  9. ↑ Top Gear Series 5, Episode 8 2004.12.19 - Renault R24 Formula One car segment.
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