Introduction
The 2011 Lotus Renault F1 R31 was the chassis used by the Lotus Renault GP Formula One team in the 2011 Formula One season. The car was driven by Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov. The Lotus Renault F1 R31 was an evolution of the 2010 R30 and was expected to have much better performance.
Design
The R31 was designed by James Allison and Mike Gascoyne. The car featured a new, longer wheelbase with a shorter overhang in front, allowing the team to run longer wheelbase aerodynamic components. The car also featured a revised front wing, with a new nosecone, and new sidepods, allowing the team to run a more efficient cooling system.
Engine
The R31 was powered by the Renault RS27-2011 2.4 litre V8 engine. The engine was capable of producing around 750 bhp and was mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission. The engine was also equipped with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), which allowed the drivers to deploy a boost of power for a limited amount of time.
Chassis
The chassis of the R31 was constructed from carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb. The car also featured a double-wishbone suspension with push rod operated dampers and inboard front springs. The car also featured a drag reduction system (DRS), which allowed the drivers to adjust the angle of the rear wing to reduce drag.
Aerodynamics
The aerodynamics of the R31 were designed to optimise downforce and reduce drag. The car featured a new front wing, with a low-drag mainplane and a high-downforce flap. The car also featured a revised floor, with an integrated diffuser and an adjustable rear wing.
Testing
The R31 made its debut at a pre-season test in Valencia, Spain. The car proved to be quick, setting the fastest time of the day. The car was then tested at the Bahrain International Circuit, where it again set the fastest time of the day.
Performance
The R31 proved to be quick in the hands of Heidfeld and Petrov, with both drivers scoring points in the first two races of the season. Heidfeld finished 4th in the Australian Grand Prix and Petrov finished 6th in the Malaysian Grand Prix. However, the team were unable to continue their strong start, and finished the season in 8th place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Gallery of ‘2011 Lotus Renault F1 R31’
The 2011 Lotus Renault F1 R31 was an evolution of the 2010 R30. It featured a longer wheelbase, a revised front wing, and new sidepods, which allowed the team to run a more efficient cooling system.
The car was powered by the Renault RS27-2011 2.4 litre V8 engine and was mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission. The engine was also equipped with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), which allowed the drivers to deploy a boost of power for a limited amount of time.
The chassis of the R31 was constructed from carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb, and featured a double-wishbone suspension with push rod operated dampers and inboard front springs. The car also featured a drag reduction system (DRS), which allowed the drivers to adjust the angle of the rear wing to reduce drag.
The aerodynamics of the R31 were designed to optimise downforce and reduce drag. The car featured a new front wing, with a low-drag mainplane and a high-downforce flap. The car also featured a revised floor, with an integrated diffuser and an adjustable rear wing.
The R31 made its debut at a pre-season test in Valencia, Spain, where it set the fastest time of the day. The car was then tested at the Bahrain International Circuit, where it again set the fastest time of the day.
The R31 proved to be quick in the hands of Heidfeld and Petrov, with both drivers scoring points in the first two races of the season. The team were unable to continue their strong start, and finished the season in 8th place in the Constructors’ Championship.
The 2011 Lotus Renault F1 R31 was an impressive car and was an evolution of the 2010 R30. It featured a longer wheelbase, a revised front wing, and new sidepods, which allowed the team to run a more efficient cooling system.
The car was powered by the Renault RS27-2011 2.4 litre V8 engine and was mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission. The engine was also equipped with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), which allowed the drivers to deploy a boost of power for a limited amount of time.
The chassis of the R31 was constructed from carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb, and featured a double-wishbone suspension with push rod operated dampers and inboard front springs. The car also featured a drag reduction system (DRS), which allowed the drivers to adjust the angle of the rear wing to reduce drag.
The aerodynamics of the R31 were designed to optimise downforce and reduce drag. The car featured a new front wing, with a low-drag mainplane and a high-downforce flap. The car also featured a revised floor, with an integrated diffuser and an adjustable rear wing.
