Renault R28

The Renault R28 is a Formula One racing car, with which Renault F1 contested the 2008 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 Rob White leading the engine design. The car was driven by Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr.

Renault R28
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorRenault
Designer(s)Pat Symonds (Executive Director of Engineering)
Bob Bell (Chassis Technical Director)
Tim Densham (Chief Designer)
Dino Toso (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorR27
SuccessorR29
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon-fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, designed for maximum strength and stiffness with minimum weight
Suspension (front)Carbon-fibre double wishbone, with pushrod and rocker operated inboard torsion bar/damper units, Zero-keel design for front suspension mounting in order to optimise front end aerodynamic performance.
Suspension (rear)Carbon-fibre double wishbone with gearbox-mounted vertical torsion bars and horizontally mounted damper units mounted on the top of the gearbox casing.
EngineRenault RS27-2008 2400cc 90-degree V8, naturally aspirated, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted, 19,000 RPM Limited
TransmissionRenault Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with one reverse gear. "Quickshift" system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts.
FuelElf
TyresBridgestone Potenza
Competition history
Notable entrantsING Renault F1 Team
Notable drivers5. Fernando Alonso
6. Nelson Piquet Jr.
Debut2008 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
182400

Launch
Fernando Alonso testing the R28 at Valencia on January 23, 2008.

Similarly to Honda, Renault arrived at Valencia with their contender a week before its official launch, giving the first laps of the R28 to Fernando Alonso on January 21, 2008.[1] The car was officially launched on January 31, 2008 at Renault's communications headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt, on the banks of the Seine in south-west Paris.[2] Renault unveiled rookie Nelson Piquet Jr. as Alonso's team mate for the 2008 season, and confirmed Lucas di Grassi,[3] Romain Grosjean[4] and Sakon Yamamoto[5] as their official test drivers.

The car carries a similar livery and sponsorship to 2007: ING are still the title sponsor, but Pepe Jeans has now been added as a sponsor, along with Spanish insurance firm Mutua Madrileña. Mutua Madrileña had been a sponsor of the McLaren-Mercedes team in 2007, but chose to follow Alonso when he left McLaren after only one year.[6]

2008 season

Testing

Renault made strong progress throughout the early 2008 testing schedule, with Alonso consistently at the top end of the timesheets. The Spaniard has commented that the team are "able to keep improving our understanding of the Bridgestone tyres, and also the new way of setting up the car with no traction control or engine braking".[7] The team made some improvements at a later test in Jerez, despite difficult windy weather conditions.[8]

Nelson Piquet driving the R28 at the 2008 French Grand Prix. The engine cover Shark Fin, similar to that of the Red Bull RB4, was attached from the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix.[9]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Points WCC
2008 ING Renault F1 Renault V8 B AUS MAL BHR ESP TUR MON CAN FRA GBR GER HUN EUR BEL ITA SIN JPN CHN BRA 80 4th
Fernando Alonso 4 8 10 Ret 6 10 Ret 8 6 11 4 Ret 4 4 1 1 4 2
Nelson Piquet Jr. Ret 11 Ret Ret 15 Ret Ret 7 Ret 2 6 11 Ret 10 Ret 4 8 Ret

Notes and references
  1. "R28 debuts in Valencia". GPUpdate.net. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  2. "Renault presents R28". GPUpdate.net. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  3. "Di Grassi named third driver at Renault". Yahoo Sport. 2008-02-08. Archived from the original on 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  4. "Romain Grosjean looks forward". Yahoo Sport. 2008-01-31. Archived from the original on 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  5. "Renault signs Yamamoto as test driver". formula1.com. 2008-02-04. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  6. "Spanish sponsor follows Alonso to Renault". GPUpdate.net. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  7. "Alonso happier with each passing day". GPUpdate.net. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  8. "Alonso back in the saddle for Renault". GPUpdate.net. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  9. Formula One official website (2008-04-26). "Renault R28 - engine cover shark fin". http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2008/790/526.html. External link in |publisher= (help)
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