Renault Sport Racing, the motorsport operation of the French automotive manufacturer, has agreed a multi-year strategic technical partnership with US conglomerate DuPont.
The partnership, which will grant DuPont brand exposure on Renault’s Formula One cars, begins with hybrid and electric powertrain innovation to help advance the F1 team and other racing programs. Renault Sport Racing and DuPont will also explore opportunities to co-innovate and accelerate development of new technology for future consumer and road car applications.
In motorsports, DuPont Kevlar fibre is already used in the tyres and the bodywork of F1 cars, while DuPont Nomex paper is used inside ERS (Energy Recovery System) shielding and electrical insulation.
In 2018, DuPont launched its AHEAD (Accelerating Hybrid-Electric Autonomous Driving) initiative, which focuses on creating technology and materials solutions in vehicle electrification, connectivity, autonomous-driving and related infrastructure. This will play a key role in the technical partnership with Renault F1. Areas of collaboration include developing structural adhesive solutions for thermal management of batteries, as well as materials for power, infrastructure and signal electronics.
Marc Doyle, chief operating officer for the DowDuPont Specialty Products Division, and chief executive-elect for future DuPont, said: “Formula One is known for being the most technologically advanced sport in the world and has embraced hybrid electric powertrains in recent years.
“If the DuPont and Renault F1 team co-developed technologies can make a performance difference under the speed, stress and heat of an F1 car racing around a track at 370 kph, or 230 mph, then we are confident we can accelerate those solutions to benefit road car applications.”
Cyril Abiteboul, managing director of Renault Sport Racing, added: “Our multi-year technical development partnership will enable ongoing collaboration to advance hybrid technology and chassis solutions, which we believe will ultimately result in improved efficiencies and on-track competitiveness.”