The Renault R24 is a Formula One car that competed in the 2004 Formula One World Championship. It was Renault’s second season with the design team that had built the R23, with a 72-degree V10 replacing the previous year’s 111-degree engine.
Renault R24 at a glance
| Team | Renault, 2004 Formula One World Championship |
|---|---|
| Drivers | Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso |
| Chassis design | Mike Gascoyne, Bob Bell, Tim Densham, Dino Toso |
| Engineering director | Pat Symonds |
| Engine design | Bernard Dudot |
| Update | R24B, from the San Marino Grand Prix |
| Engine angle | 72 degrees, replacing the 111-degree RS23 |
| Season win | Trulli won the Monaco Grand Prix |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault R24.
History of the Renault R24
Design
The chassis was designed by Mike Gascoyne, Bob Bell, Tim Densham and Dino Toso, with Pat Symonds overseeing design and production as executive director of engineering and Bernard Dudot leading engine design. Renault brought a new, updated R24B to the San Marino Grand Prix, featuring new cylinder heads, a new inlet system and related changes to the lower part of the engine.
The 2004 season
The car showed speed and reliability, outpacing both Williams and McLaren and proving a consistent challenger to the equally fast BAR Hondas of Jenson Button and Takuma Sato. It was, however, beaten by the Ferrari F2004 of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, with which the Ferrari pair won 15 of the 18 races. Renault’s drivers going into the season were Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso.
Second place fight
The team became real contenders for second place in the Constructors’ Championship when Trulli and Alonso finished third and fourth in the Spanish Grand Prix, and Trulli won the Monaco Grand Prix during the season.
Design and features
- 72-degree V10: a return to a conventional engine angle after the R23’s 111 degrees.
- R24B update: new cylinder heads and inlet system from San Marino.
- Monaco win: Jarno Trulli’s victory on the streets of Monte Carlo.
- Second-place pace: faster than Williams and McLaren for much of the year.
Renault R24 versions
- R24 (2004): the original car.
- R24B (2004): the updated car from the San Marino Grand Prix.
The R24 followed the Renault R23 and was replaced by the championship-winning Renault R25. More cars are in the Renault collection.
Video: F1 Monza 2004: Fernando Alonso in the Renault R24
Video by ju4N pLo5 on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault R24, English Wikipedia: design team, R24B, season results
