The COAT - Round Two - Lotus 49 vs Renault R26

[crmalcolm]

The ninth match in Round Two sees the Lotus 49 take on the Renault R26.

The Lotus was victorious 7-0 over the Aston Martin DBR4 in the first round, whilst the Renault took a 5-2 win over the Ferrari 641.

Lotus 49 (grandprixhistory.org):
Announced in 1963 the 3-liter Formula was now one year old and after an unsuccessful 1966 season using a variety of engines including the H-16 BRM, Chapman was desperate for a new power source. Most observers felt that a 12 cylinder engine would be bare minimum required for the 3 liter Formula and BRM continued with their 16 but the 8 cylinder had many adherents back in Detroit. Colin Chapman was also in favor of a V8 which could be made smaller and lighter. Like the previous year's Type 43 the new car would have a monocoque chassis where the engine served as a stressed member. Designed by Maurice Phillippe to work hand in hand with the new engine the Lotus 49 was kept as simple as possible. The main connection between the engine and the chassis was via two bolts spaced 9 inches apart at the bottom of the monocoque with additional connections at the reinforced cam covers.

For 1967, Graham Hill was added to the team at the instigation of Ford. Starting out at Lotus he had left the firm in 1960 to join BRM a fact that was never totally forgiven by Chapman. Early testing of the new car was entrusted to Hill as Jimmy Clark had become a temporary "tax exile" during this period. The additional power was at first obvious and Hill would later talk of a wooden board placed behind the driver to compensate for the increased acceleration. This sudden surge of power came at 6,500 rpm and took some getting used too. Until the throttle linkage was upgraded the car had a distinct feeling of an on and off switch. Clark would complain that it was easier to get the maximum out of the Lotus 25 or 33 than the 49. This may well have been the musings of a driver contemplating the end of his career which he would not live to see. The difference in Formula's was more than just a matter of engine power. Rather than finesse it was more a matter of the driver putting his foot down on the accelerator sooner and longer. Clark always an artist in a car may have seen his advantage disappearing.

The new engine was finally ready for the third race of the season, the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Graham Hill started from pole position while Clark suffering from teething problems during qualifying was stuck in the eighth position. Hill led from the start but was forced to retire on the eleventh lap due to a broken camshaft. Clark was able to make his way to the front where he scored Ford's first victory in its debut race. Clark's engine was stripped down after the race and it was found that its timing gear was damaged. With these the only two engines in existence much work was required to get the cars ready for the next race.

The most important race of the year was the U.S. Grand Prix at Watkins Glen for obvious reasons. In front of all the Ford brass it was decided that the drivers would compete under team orders with Hill winning the coin toss. In the race Clark took the early lead but soon let his teammate pass. On lap 40 Hill's car began to slow with clutch problems. Clark dutifully slowed also but under the threat of Amon's Ferrari was told by Chapman to assume the lead. The unlucky Amon was forced to retire 13 laps from the finish and the Lotus cars were again 1-2. Clark again slowed in order for Hill to catch up but with the race almost over the sight of the leading car traveling so slowly would have been too much of an affront to the other competitors (did somebody say Ferrari?) so Clark won the race that was to have been Hill's. Clark showing his class immediately went to Hill after the race to apologize but any dispute between these two great champions was short lived and Ford had their 1-2.

Renault R26 (grandprixhistory.org):
For 2006 the new regulations required teams to replace their V10s with smaller 2.4 litre V8s though smaller teams will be able to continue with the old engines, subject to restrictions. Other changes to come into force next season include revised bodywork designed to cut downforce, and new tyre regulations whereby each driver may use only one set of tyres to complete qualifying and the race.

The RS26 [engine] built at Viry-Chatillon was the jewel in the Renault’s crown. The basis for its design was the RS25, but with two less cylinders. The 90° angle of the V8 engine meant that the unit was wider than the 72° V10 used last year. This has led the team to revise the layout of ancillary systems including smaller radiators, in order to maintain a compact rear-end, an important area for aerodynamic performance.
The R26 uses a seven-speed titanium gearbox for the first time, instead of the 6-speed unit employed until 2005. The V8 engines developed less torque than the V10, and as such, a seven-speed gearbox allowed the team to exploit the engine’s characteristics in an optimum fashion. A V-8 had higher vibrations than the V10 and would need to be compensated for.

At the first race in Bahrain Fernando Alonso continued where he left off in 2005 and triumphed over Michael Schumacher. In Malaysia he was beaten by Fisichella but was able to recover in Australia. Michael Schumacher in what would prove to be his last season before his short retirement from the sport won at Imola and again at the Nurburgring. Alonso would win the next four races opening up a 25 point lead in the drivers title before Schumacher was able to close the gap with three straight victories of his own. Jenson Button in a Honda and Felipe Massa in the other Ferrari won the next two races in Hungary and Turkey. For both drivers it was their maiden victory. The standings stood at Alonso having 108 points and holding a 12 point lead over Schumacher with his teammate another 34 points in arrears. But things would soon change for the worst for Renault.

On August 23rd the FIA International Court of Appeal ruled Renault’s mass dampers illegal. They cited article 3.15 of the Formula One Technical Regulations – claiming the system constituted a moveable aerodynamic device. Renault claimed the loss of the system cost them 0.3s per lap. With two victories for Schumacher at Italy and China the championship was now tied at 116 points each. With two more races remaining Alonso was able to win in Japan and come in second at the season ender in Brazil earning him his second title running. Over the final races of the season Ferrari were decisively faster than Renault, yet the French team still persevered in constructors championship as well.

[S griffin]

The Lotus 49 was quick, but unreliable and no doubt cost Clark a title. The Renault in 2006 was a great car, but lost pace thanks to the FIA’s decision to ban mass dampers mid season, which a lot of people myself included saw as a bad move by the FIA

[Aysedasi]

Has to be the 49 for me. Simply poetry in motion.......

[Gerard C]

The Lotus looks so pure. Nothing but essential. The other thing looks like a bad taste toy or coming from a manga.