James Allison says Renault might move to rear exhaust - Formula1
Renault’s technical director, James Allison, has stated that the Renault team tried out different exhaust designs before the start of the 2011 Formula 1 season and finally decided to go with the forward-facing version to start the 2011 season.
Allison stated that the forward facing exhaust system was developed around the blown diffuser did pay off in the early part of the season. However, after analysing the rear-ward exhaust for the 2012 season and the chance that the blown diffuser will not be part of 2012 season, Renault team has decided to look at the rear-ward exhaust for the German Grand Prix.
“We tried dozens of each design, we committed to the forward exhausts, and it worked reasonably well for us. We had a tolerably competitive car. At the test we saw some interesting numbers,” commented Allison.
Allison added that the blown diffuser saga during the Silverstone race did hurt Renault’s performance in the season but after the diffuser is back, it could have been perfectly fine to have run the forward exhaust. However, Allison states that the rear-ward exhaust of Red Bull has been more beneficial.
Allison also stated that it is still not clear what the team will go for it in the German race or not because Renault have brought a lot more upgrades as well for the race and will decide the race set up after the German practice session.
“If it makes the car go quicker, but we would need to have a good improvement, and we would also have to be confident on its reliability. We just want some answers to the questions we got out of Duxford,” commented Allison.
Renault is currently fifth on the points table, just behind the Mercedes team and it will be interesting to see the effects of the exhaust system in Renault car because it could catapult them ahead of Mercedes.
German Grand Prix practice session is on the way in sunny conditions which should be good for Renault’s cause.
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