The Renault R27 is a Formula One racing car designed and built by Renault for the 2007 season. It was driven by Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen, and made its first public outing on 16 January 2007 at Jerez.
Renault R27 at a glance
| Team | Renault, 2007 Formula One season |
|---|---|
| Drivers | Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen |
| Chassis design | Bob Bell, James Allison, Tim Densham, Dino Toso |
| Engineering director | Pat Symonds |
| Engine design | Rob White |
| First outing | Jerez, 16 January 2007 |
| Season | no wins, fourth in the championship |
| Notable detail | mirrors moved to the outer sidepod strakes |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault R27.
History of the Renault R27
Design
The chassis was designed by Bob Bell, James Allison, Tim Densham and Dino Toso, with Pat Symonds overseeing design and production as executive director of engineering and Rob White leading engine design. The car made its first public outing on 16 January 2007 at the Jerez circuit, after a short first test at Silverstone the week before.
Aerodynamics
The R27 was outwardly similar to the 2006 R26, with several aerodynamic modifications. Its front wing design was very similar to the older car’s, but one unusual new feature was the placing of the rear-view mirrors on the strakes at the outer edge of the sidepods, following a concept introduced by Ferrari on its 2006 248 F1.
The season
Despite the apparent similarity to its predecessor, the R27 did not repeat its results. The car proved relatively uncompetitive, the team slumped to fourth, generally slower than Ferrari, McLaren and BMW, and the R27 failed to score a win for the first time in the team’s recent history.
Design and features
- Evolution of the R26: a similar shape with revised aerodynamics.
- Sidepod mirrors: a Ferrari-inspired detail on the outer sidepod strakes.
- No wins: the first Renault season without a victory in recent years.
- Fourth place: beaten by Ferrari, McLaren and BMW.
Renault R27 versions
- R27 (2007): the single version raced during the season.
The R27 replaced the title-winning Renault R26 and was followed by the Renault R28. More cars are in the Renault collection.
Sources
- Renault R27, English Wikipedia: design team, first test, aerodynamics, season
