Beyond the Yellow Teapot - Gareth Rogers - Publication date: Thursday 29th September
ISBN 0 7524 3553 1, RRP: £25.00 TEMPUS
Renault in F1 – the early days
Witnessing Renault dominate some Formula 1 races this season, it would be easy to overlook the manufacturer's difficult baptism in the series nearly 30 years ago. Starting with its own team in 1977, Renault took the brave decision to introduce turbocharging to Formula 1. At first, the bright yellow cars were always distinctive but rarely reliable. Numerous highly visible engine blow-ups had motor sport wags calling Renault's F1 car the Yellow Teapot.
Despite finishing second in the Constructors World Championship and second in the Drivers World Championship (Alain Prost) in 1983, the team was wound up at the end of the 1985 season. Renault became an engine supplier to other F1 teams before purchasing Benetton in 2000.
It introduced the V10 normally-aspirated engine in 1989 and supplied Williams and then Benetton. Success soon followed. There were six successive Constructors World Championship titles (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997) and five Drivers World Championship titles with Nigel Mansell (1993), Alain Prost (1994), Michael Schumacher (1995), Damon Hill (1996) and Jacques Villeneuve (1997).
Renault's involvement in motor sport is much broader than just Formula 1. The Renault Elf Campus Cup caters for 16 to 19-year olds, there is the successful Formula Renault Championship and series for the Renault Clio. It took the World Rallying title in 1973 and victory in the Le Mans 24-Hours in 1978. Indeed, at the beginning of the twentieth century, when the automobile was still very much in its infancy, Louis and Marcel Renault were among the most prominent of motor racing’s early pioneers. They scored their first victory – in the 1899 Paris to Rambuillet road race – at the wheel of a type A voiturette. Later, between 1920 and 1930, Renault scored a fine series of rallying successes and continued to compete on a regular basis during the post-Second World War years.
Using material from Renault's own archives and many photographs not published before, author and former sports broadcaster, Gareth Rogers, recounts the company's first foray into Formula 1 in fascinating detail. Within the 144 pages, there is something for everyone – sports fan, Renault buff, technical enthusiast and Formula 1 officianado. Coinciding with Renault's return to success in Formula 1, Renault F1 1977-1997: Beyond the Yellow Teapot is essential reading.
Author: Gareth Rogers is a former sports broadcaster. He has worked for Channel 4, Sky TV and regional stations.
