Presented at the 2015 GT Tour season finale, the Renault Sport R.S. 01 will be eligible to compete next year in the French FFSA GT Championship. The green light has been officially given for the introduction of the car developed by Renault Sport Technologies to race alongside the GTS. The drivers will battle for the national title in 2016.
Introduced in 2015 in the Renault Sport Trophy (scheduled during the World Series by Renault meetings), the R.S. 01 made its first appearance in the French FFSA GT Championship in October. Two cars were entered in the Open Challenge category of the season finale at Circuit Paul Ricard by Team Duqueine and the Belgian squad Boutsen-Ginion.
Beginning in 2016, the R.S. 01 will be eligible to race for the title in the French FFSA GT Championship, alongside the GT3 cars. Ahead of this introduction, a balance of performance (BOP) was specially created in collaboration with the FFSA.
In parallel, a R.S. 01 challenge will be added to the French FFSA GT Championship. Cash awards will be rewarded to the best competitors competing with this car throughout the entire 2016 season. 30,000 euros will be distributed among the top three in this challenge (minimum six cars entered).
The French FFSA GT Championship and Renault Sport Trophy calendars were organised in close collaboration in order to make sure teams can participate in both championships and thus get the most out of their equipment.
Presented in the summer of 2014, the latest race car creation from the French carmaker has, like other GTs, a carbon-fibre chassis and composite bodywork. At 4.71m long, 2m wide and 1.12m tall, the R.S.01 is powered by a mid-engine 3.8-litre bi-turbo V6 linked to a seven-speed sequential gearbox.
“We are happy to welcome the Renault Sport R.S.01to the list of cars eligible for the French GT Championship title”, declared Hugues de Chaunac, President of the ORECA Group and GT Tour promoter. “The R.S.01 is a spectacular race car and the BOP put in place will let it compete on equal footing with the GT3s. The presence of this car at the season finale was interesting, the reception by the public and competitors was positive and it should have some fine races. It will add a little more excitement to the field and allow teams who have this car to race both in the French championship and the Renault Sport Trophy.”
“We are very proud to offer the team the possibility of officially participating in the French FFSA GT Championship in 2016 in the Renault Sport R.S. 01 and thus be able to take on the competition”, announced Jean-Pascal Dauce, Renault Sport Technologies Motorsport Director. “We got a lot of important feedback at the first appearance of this car in the championship and we want to thank ORECA and the FFSA for their collaboration and trust.”
The 2016 GT Tour season kicks off on 26 and 27 March, during the Easter Cup at the Nogaro circuit.