Renault Formula One Auto Racing Team

Renault F1 - The New Championship Team

Renault Company's Formula One racing team is Renault F1. In 1977 at the British Grand Prix, Renault made its debut in Formula One racing as well as introducing the first turbo engine to the sport. This was achieved through the Renault Sport subsidiary with Eu Gene Thor as manager of the team. The Renault team entered five races at the end of the season with Jean-Pierre Jabouille as driver in there one and only car. Two years later the team made its first win when their driver, Jean Pierre Jabouille, won the French Grand Prix. They have also competed as a constructor and an engine supplier since the 1970s until now, although this has been broken by many breaks from the sport.

The team's first win came in 1979, when Jean Pierre Jabouille won the French Grand Prix. Then in 1985 the Renault team stepped away from Formula One as a manufacturer, but they did not leave altogether but continued to stay involved by providing engines to Lotus. It was not long after that the team withdrew completely from F1 racing.

Then in 1989 Renault came back to supply the Williams team with engines. Later on in the 90's Renault engines began dominating the sport, powering the Williams team as well as the Benetton team in the World Constructors' Championships. It was here that Renault had its first taste of success as a world champion. Renault again took a break from Formula One from 1996-2000, returning in 2000 when the Benetton team announced that they would be taken over by Renault in the beginning of the 2002 season. It was three years later in 2005, when they achieved their first championship as a constructor and won their first ever drivers' championship with Fernando Alonso, a former Renault test driver.

Renault is based in the United Kingdom at Enstone, Oxfordshire and it is here that the chassis are designed and put together. The engines are made outside Paris at Viry-Chatillion where they have a Renault factory. Renault has not only won the 2005 and 2006 championships but has also contributed to six constructor's world championships and five driver's world championships by supplying Benetton and Williams with engines.