Everything you need to know about the R28

The hopes of the ING Renault F1 team for this new 2008 season rest on the Renault F1 R28. The single-seater ran for the first time in Valencia last week, on January 21 to be exact.

During this four-day work session, the car completed over 1500 kilometers, the first signs of an already encouraging level of reliability despite numerous technical changes, including the new standard electronic control unit and the four-speed gearbox.

The team also made interesting progress in terms of development, leading to the conclusion that these initial laps proved to be quite promising. The new Losange single-seater stands out from its predecessors by the philosophy of its design.

The team has indeed sought to get the most out of the Bridgestone tires that all competitors have been using since 2007. To accomplish this, they revised the mass distribution and adopted a new aerodynamic concept that allowed for the implementation of a zero-keel front suspension.

The monocoque and the bodywork improve the mechanical system package of the car, while away from prying eyes, the SECU unit and the new gearbox probably represent the most notable changes.

According to an entirely revamped design, the team worked very hard to improve the rigidity and weight of the car to gain the greatest flexibility in terms of adjustment possibilities from one circuit to another.

The Chassis Technical Director, Bob Bell, said of this car that it was probably: the least evolutionary of its big sisters, explaining: 2007 was a very disappointing year compared to our usual standards. For 2008, there are high expectations both within the team and outside, and it is our duty to provide the drivers with a competitive car. We have turned the page after the problems we encountered last year and approached this season with a fresh perspective. The team has worked very hard in all areas, with special attention paid to aerodynamics.

« The front of the car has been extensively reworked with a new front suspension and a new wing. The rear of the car has also been revised without neglecting the fundamentals. The car proved to be very reliable during its initial tests, and we made encouraging progress in terms of performance last week. We have full confidence – the results we anticipated in the wind tunnel will be seen on the track » he stated.

The car will be powered, like the R27, by the V8 RS27 engine, which remains the same unit as last year due to the current homologation regulations.

The auxiliary engines must be certified by the first race of the season while the team has had a considerable workload to adapt to the requirements of the SECU unit.

The transition to the SECU unit has been and remains a significant workload, explained Rob White, Deputy Managing Director (engines). The new electronic unit is the most visible change—it’s the innovation this season, but there are also, and above all, new tools and software associated with it on which we had to conduct a whole process of understanding first and then adaptation.

« V8 engines remain complicated and sophisticated, and we must be vigilant about the supply and quality of components, as well as how the engine block is utilized in the car. We are determined to return to the forefront, and we have been working tirelessly for several months to achieve this » concluded Rob White.

According to the ING Renault F1 Team