24/08/2006
NEWS STORY
After a three-weak break, the Renault team will begin the final phase of the 2006 world championship with the second ever Turkish Grand Prix. High temperatures, the newest circuit on the calendar and a demanding layout that includes one of the season's most demanding corners, turn 8, should make for a demanding weekend.
Chassis
Aerodynamics: Istanbul Park is a very modern circuit, and therefore still in good condition. The track surface is very smooth and the kerbs are not particularly aggressive, which should mean it is relatively easy to find a stable car balance. We will use a lower downforce level than at recent races: the package for Turkey will be nearer to the medium downforce set-up employed at the North American rounds of the championship.
Tyres: The tyres are not given a particularly hard time in Turkey, but we must pay special attention to the front tyres, and particularly the right front, which suffer in turn 8. Indeed, this corner is among the most demanding of the whole season for the front end of the car. To avoid any potential problems, we can adjust suspension settings and front wing angle; however, we must always be mindful of finding the correct balance between protecting the tyres and maintaining mechanical grip, to ensure the car is quick in the more technical parts of the circuit.
Suspension: To limit tyre wear, particularly at the front of the car, the main parameters we can adjust are the suspension settings. Given the demands of the circuit and its good condition, we use relatively stiff settings that mean the car changes direction well in the technical portions, and remains stable in the high-speed turns.
Brakes: The braking zone for turn 12 is the most significant on the circuit, and getting it wrong can cost the drivers a lot of time as they overshoot the apex in this slow corner. In overall terms, though, the Istanbul Park circuit is not particularly demanding on the brakes, which can cool on the long straights before the main braking zones.
Engine
Performance: Istanbul Park is a varied circuit for the engine. Almost 65% of the lap is spent at full throttle, which is an average value for the season. We need a tractable engine, with good top speed for overtaking on the main straight – but without compromising low end performance. We also look carefully at power delivery at high revs, which will make turn 8 easier to negotiate.
Cooling: Temperatures in Turkey are expected to be extremely high, but this should not pose any problems for engine cooling. At this stage of the season, we fully understand the cooling needs of the car, and there are no slow sections in which the engine might risk overheating. Furthermore, the long straights will ensure the engine is well cooled.