Renault RE30B Formula One 1982 - World Of Classic Cars -

Renault RE30B Formula One 1982

Following a long absence in international motor racing, Renault entered Formula One in 1977. The first two years proved to be focused on development, as their first win came on home turf at the 1979 Dijon Grand Prix, with Jean-Pierre Jabouille driving. The following year, Renault secured two victories with driver René Arnoux, who was in his first year with the team. Alain Prost secured three wins for the team in 1981, and by 1982, the team was ready to be even more competitive.
The formidable driver pairing of Prost and Arnoux would stay on with Renault for 1982, and Renault presented a much improved version of the RE30, renaming the car RE30B. The car featured a redesigned nose and a new rear wing for better aerodynamics, and engineers coaxed an additional 20 horsepower from the 1.5-litre twin-turbocharged engine. However, the field definitely became more hotly contested, as Ferrari, Toleman, Brabham, and Alfa Romeo teams all introduced cars with turbocharged 1.5-litre engines for the new season.

Renault RE30B Formula One 1982

Chassis RE30B/F1 B7, the car shown here, was used by René Arnoux from the Brazilian Grand Prix until Zandvoort, accumulating to a total of eight races. Within those races, Arnoux’s best result was 10th place at Detroit, where he put in a series of impressive performances in both qualifying and the race itself, and he also landed pole positions at Imola, Monaco, and Zandvoort.
That year’s Monaco Grand Prix was perhaps Arnoux’s best performance with this car. After posting the fastest time in qualifying, Arnoux sat in pole position on the Circuit de Monaco on the morning of 23 May 1982, which would surely be a memorable moment for any driver. Arnoux held the lead off the start, putting in an excellent first lap and keeping some of Formula One’s all-time greats in his rearview mirror. Arnoux would hold that position until the 15th lap, where he spun out and stalled exiting a corner, watching teammate and fellow countryman Alain Prost take the lead. Renault achieved pole position for an incredible 10 out of 16 races in 1982.

Renault RE30B Formula One 1982

The RE30B is perhaps one of the most desirable Renault cars of Formula One’s turbo era, and this is believed to be the only example of its type in race-ready condition.