Technical director says innovative car is a "failed experiment"
Last Updated: November 21, 2011 2:53pm
Bold experiment: Renault's R31 chassis
Renault technical director James Allison has labelled their innovative R31 chassis as a "failed experiment".
Allison was speaking ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, a race which brings down the curtain on what has proved a disappointing season for the Enstone-based outfit.
After a strong start to the year, which yielded back-to-back podium finishes in the season's opening races in Australia and Malaysia, Renault's form has suffered a steady decline.
They picked up a total of 66 points in the first half of the season but have managed to score just six since then, with Vitaly Petrov forced to apologise after the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where, having finished one lap down in 13th place, he criticised the team in a post-race interview.
Renault took a bold step with a unique forward-facing exhaust on their car. Unlike the blown diffusers used by rivals, the intention was for the R31 to develop more grip towards the middle of the car.
It worked to an extent, however the car's traction suffered as a result out of slower corners, with its performance notably poor at tracks like Monaco, Hungary, Singapore as well as Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit.
Asked for his verdict on Renault's R31, Allison said: "I regard it as a bold, but ultimately failed experiment.
"We were the only team to adopt a forward exhaust layout, and we did so with high hopes, buoyed by very strong wind tunnel numbers.
"We came out of the blocks adequately well, although it was clear from the first test that the delivered downforce was not as high as we had expected.
"The season which followed has been difficult for everyone at Enstone.
"The layout which had promised so much and which, had it delivered, would have been almost impossible to copy, proved very tricky to develop and had a fundamental weakness in slow corners that has been an albatross around our neck all year.
"We look forward to moving on in 2012 with all-new exhaust rules and a chance to wipe the slate clean."
Intensity
Next season brings a ban on blown diffusers thanks to new rules which limit the positioning of a car's exhausts and Allison said that work on Renault's 2012 design is well advanced.
"It is very busy right now, but the intensity of the new car will build steadily to insane levels as January approaches," he added.
"There is always way more to do than time to do it, and yet somehow each year it all gets done in time to put the new car on the track for winter testing.
"A change for this year, which requires all teams to have passed their FIA crash tests before they are allowed to take part in pre-season testing, adds even more tension to an already difficult period."
Credit: Sky Sports (www.skysports.com)
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