The new Formula Reanult 3.5 is
designed to prepare the brightest young driving talents for life in
Formula 1 and features various technological innovations,
particularly in terms of aerodynamics and safety.
To keep costs under control, a
third of the components from the previous model have been
retained. The carbon chassis, designed and built by Dallara,
is an evolution of the previous frame. On a visual level, the
cockpit, front and rear wings are all radically
different.
Performance is achieved via a new
530 bhp V8 engine, developed by Zytek Engineering and connected to
a new semi-automatic gearbox with pneumatic clutch.
Aside from increasing power (50
bhp more than the previous model), the engineers at Renault Sport
Technologies have also worked hard to reduce the new car's
weight. Despite stricter safety rules, which require,
notably, the use of anti-intrusion panels, the new Fornula Renault
3.5 is 15kg lighter than its predecessor. This is thanks in
no small part to an innovative electronic system, which requires
neither a battery nor a starter.
The rear spoiler features a drag
reduction system (DRS) that can be activated by the driver.
This system disrupts the airflow in order to increase straight-line
speeds. Designed using computational fluid dynamics and later
tested in a wind tunnel, DRS is a low-cost way to iprove
aerodynamic efficiency and increase performance. It also
encourages overtaking, which in turn helps to make races even more
spectacular.