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Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship drivers
are set to break through the 120mph barrier at Thruxton this weekend, with this
season’s new bodywork helping to break the lap record at every 2008 event so
far. Pre-event testing saw CR Scuderia Formula Renault’s Adam Christodoulou
(Lichfield) set the fastest time of 1min 10.216s (120.79mph), which would
establish a new lap record if repeated during a Championship
race.
For 2008, Renault Sport Technologies has made subtle changes
to the bodykit introduced in 2007, which brought the Formula Renault 2.0 car in
line with its World Series by Renault FR3.5 and ING Renault F1 Team sister cars.
Removing elements of the front wing and rear diffuser, combined with a reduction
in the rear wing settings, has placed greater emphasis on driver
ability.
The FR2.0 car is built by Italian manufacturer Tatuus and has
been the single-make car used in the Formula Renault UK Championship since 2000.
Comparing Thruxton race lap times sees Lewis Hamilton in 2003 with a time of
1min 12.282s (117.34mph) before an overhaul of the car’s bodywork and engine. In
2004, champion Mike Conway posted a lap of 1min 09.751s (121.59mph), while 2007
champion Duncan Tappy, with the revised bodykit, set a mark of 1min 10.733s
(119.90mph).
Emmanuel Esnault, Track Operations Manager at Renault Sport
Technologies, explained: “During the 2007 season we observed in many Formula
Renault 2.0 Championships that the gap between the very best drivers and those
in midfield and below wasn’t as large as we expected it to be. The cars were
essentially too easy to drive to produce a fast lap time.
“We wanted to introduce more driver selectivity, shifting the
balance back towards driver ability rather than engineer ability. We worked with
Tatuus and tried several solutions at Nogaro circuit and this is the solution we
decided would give more difficulty to the driver. The car still meets the
highest safety standards, but is a little less stable.”
Esnault also raised the benefit to competitors, adding: “It
is a cost-effective solution for the teams because we are removing parts rather
than introducing them, which was a major consideration for us. We’d like to have
more data to see the full effects but it does appear to be making the cars
quicker.”
Formula Renault UK pre-race testing for Thruxton took place
on 7th April with Adam Christodoulou topping the timesheets. He set
new lap records at Brands Hatch Indy and Rockingham in the first two race
meetings of 2008 and says drivers are noticing the changes made to the
car.
Christodoulou commented: “It feels different through the
quicker corners and the back end moves around much more, which actually suits my
driving style. There’s less drag in a straight line and wind direction seems to
play a greater part this year.
“Thruxton is a difficult place for first year drivers because
of the speeds involved. You need to have the confidence of knowing the car can
handle it before you push to the edge and that only comes with experience. Going
through Goodwood flat out will be key and if you lift off it actually unsettles
the car, but it’s definitely a great circuit if you get everything
right.”
Rounds seven and eight of the Formula Renault UK with
Michelin Championship take place at Hampshire’s Thruxton circuit on
17th/18th May.
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