Interview with Mike Gascoyne

Invertview with Mike Gascoyne, Technical Director, Renault F1

What new innovations are included in the chassis set-up?

None, it's an evolution of the B201. It's obviously got a completely new aerodynamic package and a new gearbox. Everything is different but it's all an evolution of last year's car.

How much of the car is brand new, and how much comes from the B201?

Nothing is carried over from the B201. But as I said Formula One cars evolve and a lot of it is based on last year's car.

How did the team manage to improve so much as Benetton in 2001?

We improved a lot because we made very large gains in both engine and aerodynamic performance. Those are the two major performance parameters. Viry made a lot progress in terms of the engine and we made very considerable steps in terms of the aerodynamics.

How long has it taken for the 2002-spec car to come together?

The 2002 car started in detail in August.

What area, if any, have you concentrated on and why?

Aerodynamics, because it makes the car go fastest.

How often do you run your Wind Tunnel and how often do you find improvements?

We run the Wind Tunnel from 6am until 11pm, seven days a week 52 weeks a year. We are constantly finding improvements and the spec of the car was constantly updated in the second half of last year. Really, from the first test, will be constantly updated all through the year.

What are the plans for aerodynamic development during the coming season?

It will be constant improvement throughout the season and if we can match what we did last season, I think we will end up very competitive.

How has the innovative Renault engine helped you in designing the chassis?

The engine is a development of last year's engine, so we are very used to installing it in the chassis. It is very low and very lightweight. That obviously means that we get more performance out of the chassis from a lower central gravity height.

How has the stability in the regulations affected development this year?

Stability in the regulations means that we don't have large changes to cope with as we did at the start of last year, so we can really concentrate on evolving the car and pushing forward its development rather than having to cope with regulation changes.

What are your aims for 2002 and for the next two years?

In 2002 we want to move back into the top four at the very least, and by 2004 we need to be regular race winners and looking to challenge for the world championship.

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