Renault R24

The Renault R24 is a Formula One car that competed in the 2004 Formula One season. The chassis was designed by Bob Bell, Tim Densham and Dino Toso with Pat Symonds overseeing the design and production of the car as Executive Director of Engineering and Bernard Dudot leading the engine design. It was a car that showed speed and reliability during the season, managing to outpace both the Williams and McLaren, as well as proving to be a consistent challenger to the equally fast BAR Hondas of Jenson Button and Takuma Sato. However, it was routinely bested by the Ferrari F2004 of Michael Schumacher & Rubens Barrichello, as the Ferrari duo won 15 of the 18 races in 2004. The driver line-up was Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso. Renault used 'Mild Seven' logos, except at the Canadian, French and British Grands Prix.

Fernando Alonso driving the R24 at the 2004 United States Grand Prix.

Renault R24

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Renault
Designer(s)	Pat Symonds (Executive Director of Engineering) Bob Bell (Chassis Technical Director) Tim Densham (Chief Designer) Dino Toso (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor	R23
Successor	R25
Technical specifications
Chassis	Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque
Suspension (front)	Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard titanium rocker via a pushrod system
Suspension (rear)	Titanium top and carbon fibre bottom wishbones operating vertically mounted torsion bars and horizontally mounted damper units mounted on the top of the gearbox casing
Engine	Renault RS24, Mid-mounted 3.0 litre V10 (72°)
Transmission	Titanium longitudinal, sequential paddle shift, 6 speed + 1 reverse
Fuel	Elf
Tyres	Michelin
Competition history
Notable entrants	Mild Seven Renault F1 Team
Notable drivers	7. Jarno Trulli 7. Jacques Villeneuve 8. Fernando Alonso
Debut	2004 Australian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F.Laps 16 1 3 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The team became real contenders for second place in the Constructors' Championship. Trulli won the Monaco Grand Prix. However, his relationship with Renault (particularly with team principal and Trulli's ex-manager Flavio Briatore) deteriorated after he was consistently off the pace in the latter half of the year, and made claims of favouritism in the team towards Alonso (though the two teammates themselves remained friendly).

Commentators regularly point to the French Grand Prix as the final straw for Briatore, where Trulli was overtaken by Rubens Barrichello in the final stages of the last lap, costing Renault a double podium finish at their home Grand Prix. He went on without finishing any points and later got fired. After that, he announced that he was joining Toyota F1 for the following year and in fact left Renault early, driving the Toyota in the last two races of the 2004 season.

Hoping to secure second place in the Constructors' Championship, Renault replaced Trulli with 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve for the final three races. However, Villeneuve — away from F1 racing for almost an entire season and struggling to aclimatise quickly to racing at the premier level — did not impress, and the team finished third behind BAR with 105 points.

The R24 was loaned to The Stig for an episode of Top Gear. Renault claimed it would go around the Top Gear Test Track in less than one minute; the R24 got around in 59.0 seconds.[1]

Renault used 'Mild Seven' logos, except at the Canadian, French and British Grands Prix.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year	Team	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Points	WCC
2004	Renault F1	Renault V10	M		AUS	MAL	BHR	SMR	ESP	MON	EUR	CAN	USA	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	CHN	JPN	BRA	105	3rd
				Jarno Trulli	7	5	4	5	3	1	4	Ret	4	4	Ret	11	Ret	9	10
				Fernando Alonso	3	7	6	4	4	Ret	5	Ret	Ret	2	10	3	3	Ret	Ret	4	5	4
				Jacques Villeneuve																11	10	10

References

1. Top Gear Series 5, Episode 8 2004.12.19 - Renault R24 Formula One car segment.