Renault R23
{{Short description|Formula One racing car}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox racing car
| Car_name = Renault R23
Renault R23B
| Image = File:Fernando Alonso 2003 Silverstone.jpg
| Caption = Fernando Alonso with the R23B at the 2003 British Grand Prix
| Category = Formula One
| Constructor = Renault
| Designer = Pat Symonds {{smaller|(Executive Engineer)}}
Mike Gascoyne {{smaller|(Technical Director)}}
Bob Bell {{smaller|(Deputy Technical Director)}}
Tim Densham {{smaller|(Chief Designer)}}
Mark Smith {{smaller|(Project Leader)}}
Tad Czapski {{smaller|(Head of R&D)}}
John Iley {{smaller|(Head of Aerodynamics)}}
Bernard Dudot {{smaller|(Engine Technical Director)}}
| Predecessor = R202
| Successor = R24
| Team = Mild Seven Renault F1 Team
| Drivers = 7. {{flagicon|ITA}} Jarno Trulli
8. {{flagicon|ESP}} Fernando Alonso
| Chassis = Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque
| Front suspension = Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard titanium rocker via a pushrod system
| Rear suspension = Titanium top and carbon fibre bottom wishbones operating vertically mounted
torsion bars and horizontally-mounted damper units mounted on the top of the gearbox casing
| Engine name = Renault RS23
| Capacity = {{convert|3.0|L|cuin|0|lk=on|abbr=on}}
| Configuration = V10 111°
| Turbo/NA = naturally-aspirated,
| Engine position = mid engined, longitudinally-mounted
| Power = {{convert|830-850|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} @ 17,800 rpm{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/moteur-renault.aspx|title=Engine Renault|website=www.statsf1.com|access-date=26 November 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28171|title = Bore and stroke on early 2000s V10 engines - F1technical.net}}
| Gearbox name = Titanium longitudinal, semi-automatic sequential paddle shift, 6-speed + 1 reverse
| Fuel = Elf
| Length = {{convert|4600|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| Width = {{convert|1800|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| Height = {{convert|950|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| Wheelbase = {{convert|3100|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| Track = {{convert|1450|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} on front; {{convert|1400|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} on rear
| Weight = {{convert|600|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} including driver and fuel
| Tyres = Michelin
| Debut = 2003 Australian Grand Prix
| First_win = 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix
| Last_win = 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix
| Last_event = 2003 Japanese Grand Prix
| Races = 16
| Wins = 1
| Cons_champ = 0
| Drivers_champ = 0
| Poles = 2
| Fastest_laps = 1
| Podiums = 5
}}
The Renault R23 was the car with which the Renault team competed in the 2003 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by Italian Jarno Trulli, who was in his second season with the team, and Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who replaced Jenson Button after the Briton left for British American Racing.
Design and development
=Name=
The car was simply named "R23" since the team no longer had a connection with Benetton.
=Chassis=
The chassis was designed by Mike Gascoyne, Bob Bell, Tim Densham and John Iley with Pat Symonds overseeing the design and production of the car as executive director of Engineering and Jean-Jacques His leading the engine design.
A "B specification" car, the R23B made its debut in Britain and used for the remainder of the season.
=Engine=
Renault was innovative during this period producing non-standard designs such as the 111° 10-cylinder engine for the 2003 RS23 which was designed to effectively lower the center of gravity of the engine and thus improve the car's handling. This eventually proved too unreliable and heavy, so Renault returned to a 72 degree vee angle with the following year's R24.
Racing history
The Renault R23 was launched at an official ceremony in Lucerne, Switzerland in January, 2003.{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/renault-r23-launched-in-lucerne/1014890/|title=Renault R23 launched in Lucerne|publisher=Motorsport|access-date=25 March 2022}} At this initial launch, it was confirmed sponsor Mild Seven would be continuing to be the primary sponsor of the team.{{cite web|url=https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/renault-and-mild-seven-renew-partnership/1014863/|title=Renault and Mild Seven renew partnership|publisher=Motorsport|access-date=25 March 2022}} Just days later, the Renault team re-launched the car at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France. The double launch was caused by Renault promising a branded car launch for sponsor Mild Seven, something that would be illegal in France.{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/renault-re-launch-r23-at-paul-ricard-5061837/5061837/|title=Renault Re-Launch R23 at Paul Ricard|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}} Both Trulli and Alonso completed laps of the circuit in the car at Paul Ricard to begin the new season for the team.{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/general/news/2003-renault-launch-4969833/4969833/|title=2003 Renault Launch|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/renault-launch-part-ii-paul-ricard/1015254/|title=Renault launch part II - Paul Ricard|publisher=Motorsport|access-date=25 March 2022}} The team had an extensive pre season test program, including former Toyota driver turned Renault reserve driver Allan McNish. Following the pre-season, the technical team including Pat Symonds were satisfied with the progress from 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/44514/1/mcnish-i-will-be-at-forefront-of-testing-new-r23|title=McNish: I will be at forefront of testing new R23|date=26 January 2003 |publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/renault-pre-season-testing-update/1018410/|title=Renault pre-season testing update|publisher=Motorsport|access-date=25 March 2022}}
The season started well, with both drivers scoring points at the 2003 Australian Grand Prix. Alonso taking advantage of the new points system, allowing him to secure two points for seventh place.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/44939/1/australian-gp-2003-errors-hand-dc-oz-win|title=Australian GP 2003 - Errors hand DC Oz win.|date=9 March 2003 |publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}} At the following race in Malaysia, Fernando Alonso secured pole position. Alonso was both the youngest driver and first Spaniard to take a pole position in F1 at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/renault-s-alonso-makes-history-in-malaysia-1.468092|title=Renault's Alonso makes history in Malaysia|publisher=The Irish Times|access-date=25 March 2022}} In the race, Alonso would finish in third taking his first podium in Formula One.{{cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2003/malaisie.aspx|title=2. MALAYSIA 2003|publisher=Stats F1|access-date=25 March 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.atlasf1.com/2003/mal/elizalde.html|title=The 2003 Malaysian GP Review|publisher=Atlas F1|access-date=25 March 2022}}
File:Fernando Alonso 2006 United States GP (178149823).jpg
At the third race of the season in Brazil, Alonso would once again take third place. However, the chaotic Grand Prix saw him secure this following a major accident with debris from an earlier crash caused by Mark Webber in the Jaguar.{{cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/f1/news/alonso-speaks-about-brazil-crash/1029790/|title=Alonso speaks about Brazil crash|publisher=Motorsport|access-date=25 March 2022}} Whilst Trulli's form in the R23 began to falter, Alonso continued to impress scoring points on a regular basis and a career best second place at his home race, the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/45587/1/spanish-gp-2003-schumacher-wins-alonso-stars|title=Spanish GP 2003 - Schumacher wins, Alonso stars.|date=4 May 2003 |publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}} Following a double retirement at the 2003 French Grand Prix, Renault introduced the R23B spec car for the British Grand Prix, an aerodynamic upgrade from the original R23.{{cite web|url=https://www.f1technical.net/f1db/cars/917/renault-r23b|title=Renault R23B|publisher=F1 Technical|access-date=25 March 2022}} It took Jarno Trulli to a third place podium just weeks later in Germany.{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/general/news/2003-german-gp-sunday-4974947/4974947/|title=2003 German GP Sunday|publisher=Autosport|access-date=25 March 2022}}
The 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix would be a momentous one for the team. Fernando Alonso won the race, becoming the youngest driver since Bruce McLaren to do 44 years prior. In addition to being the first Spanish driver to win a race in history, Alonso also delivered the team's first victory since Alain Prost at the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix as a full constructor and the 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix as an engine supplier.{{cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/46853/1/hungarian-gp-2003-alonso-sweeps-the-field|title=Hungarian GP 2003 - Alonso sweeps the field|date=24 August 2003 |publisher=crash.net|access-date=25 March 2022}}
The final three races of the season saw Alonso score one point and two retirements, while teammate Trulli took the R23B to another two points scoring finishes.
The R23 and R23B steered Renault to a fourth-place finish in the Constructors' Championship with 88 points.{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2003/team.html|title=2003 Constructor Standings|publisher=F1|access-date=25 March 2022}}
Livery
The livery was similar to the previous season's design with subtle changes.
Renault used the Mild Seven logos, except at the French, British and United States Grands Prix.
Complete Formula One results
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
! Year ! Entrant ! Chassis ! Engine ! Tyres ! Drivers ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! Points ! WCC |
| rowspan="5"| {{F1|2003}}
| rowspan="5"| Renault | rowspan="3"| R23 | rowspan="5"| RS23 3.0 V10 | rowspan="5"| {{Michelin}} | || AUS || MAL || BRA || SMR || ESP || AUT || MON || CAN || EUR || FRA || GBR || GER || HUN || ITA || USA || JPN !rowspan="5"| 88 !rowspan="5"| 4th |
|---|
| {{flagicon|ITA}} Jarno Trulli
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 13 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 6 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret | | | | | | |
| {{flagicon|ESP}} Fernando Alonso
|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 7 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 6 |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret | | | | | | |
| rowspan="2"| R23B
| {{flagicon|ITA}} Jarno Trulli | | | | | | | | | | |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 6 |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| 3 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 7 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5 |
| {{flagicon|ESP}} Fernando Alonso
| | | | | | | | | | |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 4 |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1 |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 8 |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| Ret |