Renault F1 trucks at Duxford
Renault F1 trucks at Duxford
Author
Discussion

stifler

Original Poster:

37,069 posts

217 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
Any ideas why? I drove past a little while ago and there were two race trucks outside the hangar nearest the M11. Demo run?

MHM

103 posts

216 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
Prob just a shake down on the way to Monaco. Might have been the test team doing straight line stuff.

belleair302

7,008 posts

236 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
Could be a video promo / sponsor shoot!!

stifler

Original Poster:

37,069 posts

217 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
Can't be a shakedown, they are onluy allowed to run on FIA sanctioned courses. It is well out of the way of the team if they were on their way to Monaco. They would be going the otheer way around the M25.

I don't think duxford is an FIA sanctioned straight line facility either. Kemble is the only one I know about in britain.

That's why I thought there might be a demo run.

rubystone

11,254 posts

288 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
stifler said:
Can't be a shakedown, they are onluy allowed to run on FIA sanctioned courses. It is well out of the way of the team if they were on their way to Monaco. They would be going the otheer way around the M25.

I don't think duxford is an FIA sanctioned straight line facility either. Kemble is the only one I know about in britain.

That's why I thought there might be a demo run.
What about Elvington? A number of F1 teams (including Renault) use that.

I must admit, it's news to me that the FIA have to in any way "sanction" a "straight line facility". Mind you, with the silly rules Mosley keeps introducing,I'd not put it past him to slip something like that in under the "safety" card....

..and regardless of all of this, why would anyone want to avail themselves of straight line testing for Monaco?....

aeropilot

40,629 posts

256 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
I'll try and find out, I know a few guys that work there on the vintage aircraft.

My guess would be some sort of film/promo/TV etc.

MHM

103 posts

216 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
F1 teams will go anywhere if they need to, Mclaren used an airfield in Menorca to run their cars before Valencia(i think) last year, that is neither FIA sanctioned nor on the way to the ferry/airport.

egomeister

7,598 posts

292 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
They'll be straight line testing. A number of venues are used in the UK - kemble, elvington and santa pod for example.

stifler

Original Poster:

37,069 posts

217 months

Tuesday 19th May 2009
quotequote all
egomeister said:
They'll be straight line testing. A number of venues are used in the UK - kemble, elvington and santa pod for example.
I stand corrected, I remember Mark webber doing start line testing after the Malaysia 05? Debacle

JeremyK

191 posts

234 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
I believe Williams are going to Duxford soon as well

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

211 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
JeremyK said:
I believe Williams are going to Duxford soon as well
I saw a Williams truck going down the A34 past Winchester last weekend...

BigBen

12,155 posts

259 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
Might go and have a look at lunchtime if I can persuade someone to give me a lift.

BigBen

12,155 posts

259 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
Went to have a look and it was straight line testing. A single car going up and down the runway, could not get too close without paying £16 full admission which was a bit steep for half an hour (a bargain on any other day, Duxford is ace).

Did not look like full speed runs, in fact seemed to be limited to 100mph ish, very consistant speed and gear changes, which is I guess what you need in a test. Anglia TV were there so it could be on TV later.

Ben

p.s. can whoever said Williams were going to Duxford soon let me know when as it beat my normal lunchtime stroll into a cocked hat!

FourWheelDrift

92,287 posts

313 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
If it isn't for a TV programme or sponsors day (might be last years Renault cars or older, not this years car). They do have limited days testing on certain types of track. It could also be a young driver day (for sponsors).

Although I have no idea why they would choose Duxford since it's quite a short runway and often busy since it is an active airfield.

FIA Regs for 2009 said:
Testing

* Track testing is banned 7 days before the first race of the season until the 31st of December.
* Teams will be allowed to carry out three one day young driver training tests between the end of the last event of the Championship and 31 December of the same year. Drivers are eligible only if they have not competed in more than two F1 World Championship Events in the preceding 24 months or tested a Formula One car on more than four days in the same 24 month period.
  • Teams can also conduct eight one day aerodynamic tests carried out on FIA approved straight line or constant radius sites between 1 January 2009 and the end of the last Event of the 2009 Championship.
Not sure Duxford is FIA approved, so it's probably a young driver day for sponsors or running older cars for an advert I'd think. As the old aerodynamics aren't related to this years cars.

BigBen

12,155 posts

259 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
FourWheelDrift said:
If it isn't for a TV programme or sponsors day (might be last years Renault cars or older, not this years car). They do have limited days testing on certain types of track. It could also be a young driver day (for sponsors).

Although I have no idea why they would choose Duxford since it's quite a short runway and often busy since it is an active airfield.

FIA Regs for 2009 said:
Testing

* Track testing is banned 7 days before the first race of the season until the 31st of December.
* Teams will be allowed to carry out three one day young driver training tests between the end of the last event of the Championship and 31 December of the same year. Drivers are eligible only if they have not competed in more than two F1 World Championship Events in the preceding 24 months or tested a Formula One car on more than four days in the same 24 month period.
  • Teams can also conduct eight one day aerodynamic tests carried out on FIA approved straight line or constant radius sites between 1 January 2009 and the end of the last Event of the 2009 Championship.
Not sure Duxford is FIA approved, so it's probably a young driver day for sponsors or running older cars for an advert I'd think. As the old aerodynamics aren't related to this years cars.
Would seem odd to hold a young driver day on an airfield when all they had to do was accelarate in a straight line (sounded like the ECU was controlling shift points etc as the consistency was 100% to my ear) and turn at a snails pace at either end.

No camera set up apart from around the 'pits' and no livery / other indication that you would expect to see on a corporate day.

Wonder how difficult it is to get a straight runway FIA approved ? Duxford must have the right firefighting / safety equipment in place for all the old aircraft.

Ben

dcw@pr

3,516 posts

272 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
i can hear them testing now

steve y

460 posts

240 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
stifler said:
Can't be a shakedown, they are onluy allowed to run on FIA sanctioned courses. It is well out of the way of the team if they were on their way to Monaco. They would be going the otheer way around the M25.

I don't think duxford is an FIA sanctioned straight line facility either. Kemble is the only one I know about in britain.

That's why I thought there might be a demo run.
Santa pod dragstrip has seen some straight line stuff from several teams over the recent past

Teppic

8,076 posts

286 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
It's just been on ITV Anglia News (and is about to be on BBC Look East). According to them the Renault team will also be at Duxford next Wednesday, performing more straight-line tests.

So get a day off and head down there if you can! biggrin

Edited by Teppic on Wednesday 20th May 23:22

SPR2

3,220 posts

225 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
I remember Mclaren using RAF Cottersmore at some point.

elster

17,517 posts

239 months

Wednesday 20th May 2009
quotequote all
Not sure if they will be using Elvington anymore, were only allowed 10 days last year.

That may be down to 0 now.

So Duxford could be the new place.