Renault confirms 2014 power supply to Caterham
Renault Sport F1 and Caterham F1 Team have confirmed the extension of their partnership in the FIA Formula One World Championship for a further three years. Caterham will use the Renault Energy F1 Power Unit, the V6 turbocharged engine equipped with potent energy recovery systems.
Caterham Cars and Alpine, a brand under the auspices of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, already formed a Joint Venture in November 2012 to develop a new range of lightweight roadcars.
From next year, Caterham F1 Team will be equipped with the Renault Energy F1, a power plant designed for the radical new 2014 technical regulations. The Energy F1 unites a V6 turbocharged direct injection internal combustion engine with two motor generator units that harvest energy dissipated in the exhaust gasses and brakes and deploy as both electrical and mechanical power. When combined the energy systems and engine will produce more power than the current V8 engines, however will be more than 35% more energy efficient thanks to technical and sporting regulations that prescribe a fuel flow limit of 100kg/h and maximum quantity of 100kg permitted per race.
The Anglo-Malaysian team and the French manufacturer first teamed up for the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship, with the Renault RS27 V8 engine powering the team in subsequent seasons.
Jean-Michel Jalinier, President and Managing Director of Renault Sport F1 commented, ‘Over the past three years we have seen Caterham mature, with impressive new facilities and a solid technical structure. The new technical regulations provide a big challenge, but with change comes opportunity and next year is a prime chance for the team to secure the next targets in its ongoing plans. From the very start our partnership has been comprehensive and it is therefore natural that we would want to see it pay dividends. We are very happy with the quality and depth of the teams we will supply and look forward to seeing the first generation of Energy F1-powered cars hit the track next year.’
Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal, Caterham F1 Team added: ‘This announcement is obviously very good news for our F1 team and is a reflection of the deep bonds that have been created between our two businesses since 2011, particularly with the roadcar project we launched in 2012 between Caterham and Alpine, which is now at an advanced stage in development.
‘The 2014 season heralds a new era for F1 with our sport taking a positive stance in aligning itself with the technical changes in the global automotive industry, and Renault is right at the cutting edge of that development. When our F1 partnership began in 2011 we, as a young team, were immediately impressed by the various benefits of the collaboration on our operations, and since then we are relentlessly pushing them even further. Given the age and status of our team we have also been pleased to see Renault Sport F1 adapting their operational practices to suit our size and optimizing our integration with an enhanced technical collaboration. We work together in an open and honest manner to help Caterham F1 Team achieve its short-term goal of establishing itself as an integral part of F1 and to help Renault achieve the deserved recognition of its technical edge.
‘The depth of our partnership will certainly pay dividends in 2014, helping us tackle the new regulations quickly and efficiently, helping to give us the best opportunity to continue our progress up the grid in 2014 and beyond.’
