Renault Sport Trophy Explained

Category:One-make racing by Renault
Inaugural:2015
Constructors:Renault Sport
Engines:Renault Sport
Tyres:Michelin
Country/Region:Europe
Folded:2016
Champion Driver:

Markus Palttala
: Fabian Schiller
Pro: Pieter Schothorst
AM: Fabian Schiller

Website:renault-sport.com

The Renault Sport Trophy was a one-make racing series created and managed by Renault Sport. The series has raced with the Renault Sport R.S. 01 in 2015 and 2016 as part of the Renault Sport Series (formerly World Series by Renault), but was folded after just two seasons.

Development

In 2014, Renault announced its intention to create a new one-make sports car championship. The company unveiled the racecar for the series, called Renault Sport RS 01, at the 2014 Moscow Motor Show.[1] The RS 01, developed by Renault Sport, has a Gibson Technology-tuned 3.8-litre V6 twin-turbo engine supplied by Renault Sport's Japanese partner Nismo and a chassis built by Dallara.[2] [3] It was announced that the championship would use a professional-gentleman drivers combination.[2] The first season was held in 2015. The second and the last season was held in 2016,[4] as a support event for 2016 European Le Mans Series.

Drivers and race format

The car is driven by a professional-gentleman driver combination. Professional drivers compete for the Elite (or PRO) class championship and gentlemen for the Prestige (or AM) class., the race weekend consists of one 60-minute/90-minute (plus one lap) race called "endurance", where the two drivers of each car participate, and two 25-minute races (one for the Elite-class driver and other for the Prestige-class driver). There are separate qualifying sessions for Elite and Prestige to determine the grid order in the short races, and the endurance grid order is determined by a system that uses a mix of Elite and Prestige qualifying results.[5]

Awards

the Renault Sport Trophy Elite-class champion is given a development programme and the chance to participate at a Nismo's Super GT test. If he is not chosen to compete in Super GT, he receives a award. The Prestige-class driver can opt between a award to step up into the Elite class or a LMP2 entry at the Le Mans 24 Hours.[6]

Specifications

Champions

SeasonEndurance ChampionElite/Pro ChampionPrestige/Am ChampionTeam Champion
2015 Dario Capitanio
David Fumanelli
Andrea Pizzitola Dario Capitanio Oregon Team
2016 Markus Palttala
Fabian Schiller
Pieter Schothorst Fabian Schiller Team Marc VDS EG 0,0

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Revealed: meet race car Renault Sport R.S. 01, unveiled at the Moscow International Automobile Salon . Renault Live blog . Renault . 27 August 2014 . 13 April 2016.
  2. Web site: Renault reveals Renaultsport R.S. 01 racer in official pics . Madden, Luke . AutoExpress . 27 August 2014 . 13 April 2016.
  3. Web site: Renault previews new Renaultsport Trophy racer - latest picture . Moss, Darren . Autocar . 18 June 2014 . 13 April 2016.
  4. News: Renault cancels Renault Sport Trophy after two seasons. Elizalde. Pablo. 17 October 2016. motorsport.com. 17 October 2016.
  5. Web site: Inside Renault Sport Trophy #1 . Renault Sport Series . Renault Sport . 29 May 2015 . 14 April 2016.
  6. Web site: The Renault Sport Trophy Year Two . Renault Sport Series . Renault Sport . 12 April 2016 . 14 April 2016.