Renault’s 1977 Formula 1 Debut – The Renault RS01
F1 fans, assemble! Today we take a little amble down memory lane to take a look at how Groupe Renault changed the face of Formula 1, seemingly on a whim, when they entered a single turbocharged V6 vehicle with Jean-Pierre Jabouille at the wheel in 1977.
The Cast-Iron V6 That Changed it All
TOP TIP: Don’t want to read the whole thing, but still want to get the gist? simply watch the video featuring the discussion between Peter Windsor and Craig Scarborough that featured on Motorsport.tv below.
When Groupe Renault entered the last five races of 1977 with Jean-Pierre Jabouille in its only car, the Renault RS01 was fitted with a Renault-Gordini V6 1.5 L turbocharged engine – the first turbo engine to become a regular feature in Formula One history. But it was more than just a great car and engine. It came with a whole host of features, including high-performance Michelin tyres. The engine itself was also pivotal in facilitating the celebrated ground effect that acted as a highly efficient means of creating downforce with a very small drag penalty.
At this time in F1, there was no pressure to run every round of the championship. It was just about getting the car there. In this golden era of F1, the team could pick and choose the races, so they chose a few quick circuits that suited their calendar and it ended up giving them more than just a nice step up.
Not that the turbocharged V6 didn’t come with a whole set of issues at first. In fact, there were quite a number of complaints from the F1 drivers in those early days. Driveability was a major complaint due to the location of the engine, and the lag of boost followed by the sudden, unpredictable onset of horsepower was another.
That was all smoothed out in time, and when Team Renault took to the circuit in a reimagined twin-turbo vehicle in ‘79, the rest of the F1 world quickly realised that had to jump on the turbo bandwagon to remain competitive. This project would also go on to have an influence on everyday motorists. Back in the 70s turbochargers were used in agricultural and industrial machinery, it wasn’t something you’d want in your road car or supercar. That all changed in the wake of the Renault F1 triumph, which is why you’ll see that pretty much every notable road car of the 80s was fitted with a turbocharger (whether it needed it or not…).
And that is the gist of how Renault started the turbocharged F1 craze in the 70s. You may not be making your way onto the F1 circuit any time soon, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t benefit from the skill and experience of the trailblazing team that managed to change the course of F1 history. Get in touch with your closest Renault branch today to test drive one of the current models we have on offer and feel what a difference it makes when you’re ride is backed by a winning team.
