Renault launches R31 at Valencia Circuit

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Lotus Renault Team unveils its 2011 season car "R31" at Valencia Circuit, Spain

The R31, in the iconic black and gold livery associated with backers Group Lotus, was presented to the media in the pit lane of the Valencia circuit in spain, ahead of the first pre-season test of the year which will begin on Tuesday, 1st Feb, 2011.

The car was unveiled by Race drivers Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov along with technical director James Allison, team principal Eric Boullier and chairman Gerard Lopez.
[Lotus Renault R31 Car N Drivers]
[Lotus Renault R31 Car]

Renault's technical director James Allison said, "Words like 'aggressive' and 'innovative' are very much in vogue in Formula 1 at the moment, but where the R31 is concerned we feel those adjectives are appropriate. "It's true to say that the car has been designed in an ambitious manner and a quick glance at the layout will confirm that its entire concept differs considerably, not just from last year's car, but from any car this team has ever produced."

“For Genii Capital and Lotus Renault GP, the 2011 season will be the one in which we achieve our aims,” said team chairman and Genii boss Gerard Lopez. “We now have 100% ownership of the team, and we’re tackling the coming championship with the intention of continuing to do things our way – but always with humility. “Our aim for 2011 is to continue our march towards the front of the grid, seize the slightest opportunity and do better than last season in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. We feel we are well prepared for the challenge ahead.”

Team principal Eric Boullier said: “All the hard work over the winter has been focused on delivering a big improvement for 2011. The result is a car with more than 92% new parts compared to the R30. But technical innovation isn’t the only key to performance. Since last year, we have reviewed all our internal processes and our overall efficiency has now improved by 15%. That means we should be more competitive than last year, on the track and at the factory.”

The new R31 car dates back to the 1970s and 80s when Lotus won races with the likes of Emerson Fittipaldi, Mario Andretti and Ayrton Senna with cars painted in the colours of a British tobacco brand.

Renault also presented their new third drivers Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean at the event, while the team’s reserve drivers were confirmed as Jan Charouz, Ho-Pin Tung and Fairuz Fauzy.

Team chairman Gerard Lopez, who acquired the Renault F1 team after a scandalous 2009 season, coined this season as "black to the future" thanks to the Lotus deal, adding: "Hopefully the risks we took will pay off this year in terms of wins over just podiums."