Lotus Renault GP: the R31 is a failed experiment
In difficulty since mid-season, LRGP is certainly paying for the too radical choice regarding the forward exhaust concept, a real thorn in the side of the R31's development. This is, in any case, the opinion of James Allison.
Recently at the center of a rather harsh diatribe from one of its three drivers, Vitaly Petrov, the R31 developed this season by the British team Lotus Renault GP is not really better regarded by one of the team’s executives. Indeed, it is the turn of the technical director, James Allison, to revisit the failure represented by this daring mount on a technical level.
The problem is primarily with the exhausts, whose concept had shown some potential at the beginning of the season during winter testing: « I consider it a bold move, but the experiment ultimately failed. We were the only team to adopt a forward-facing exhaust outlet, and we did so with high hopes, backed by a number of wind tunnel tests ».
« We left the factory reasonably confident, even though it was clear from the first test that the aerodynamic support delivered wasn’t as high as we had anticipated ». The season had started promisingly for the Enstone team, which secured two podiums in the first two races in Australia with Petrov, and in Malaysia with Nick Heidfeld. « The season has been difficult for everyone at Enstone. The forward layout, which promised so much and was almost impossible to copy, proved difficult to develop and had a fundamental weakness in slow corners ». A lack of development that Vitaly Petrov mentioned mid-week: « For nearly ten races, we have had absolutely nothing new on the car. This means we are essentially running the same car as we had at the start of the season ».
James Allison hopes that the regulation change in 2012 will be an opportunity for significant renewal for the future Lotus team: “We are looking forward to 2012 with the new exhaust rules. It’s a chance to wipe the slate clean.” To avoid the blown diffuser technique, the FIA requires that exhaust gases be expelled from a higher position than this season. Moreover, engine mappings will be limited.
