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The Renault Formula One team, currently trading as Lotus Renault GP Limited, is a Formula One racing team. It has competed in various forms since 1977, winning Constructors' and Drivers' titles in 2005 and 2006. Renault had some involvement in early motorsport, including Ferenc Szisz winning the first French Grand Prix. However, it was not until 1977 that the company entered Formula One as a constructor, introducing the turbo engine to Formula One in their first car, the Renault RS01. Although the Renault team won races and competed for world titles, it withdrew at the end of 1985. Renault returned to Formula One as a team in 2002 when it completed its takeover and rebranding of the UK-based team previously known as Benetton (and before that, Toleman). Under the Renault F1 Team guise the team won the Drivers' and Constructors' championships in 2005 and 2006. At the end of 2009, the Renault car company sold a 75% stake in the team to the Genii Capital investment company. At the end of 2010, it sold its remaining 25% share to Genii, which was then taken by Group Lotus. The team will compete in the 2011 season under the name Lotus Renault GP. The team continues to be coordinated from its UK base at Enstone, Oxfordshire where the chassis are designed and built. Engines are manufactured at Renault's facility at Viry-Châtillon near Paris. Renault has also supplied engines to other teams, including Team Lotus (1980s), Benetton and Williams teams in the 1990s. As an engine supplier, Renault has contributed to six driver's world championships (1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2010) and seven constructor's world championships (1992 � 1997 and 2010) as engine supplier for Benetton, Williams and Red Bull. The engine supply has continued during periods when Renault was not active as a constructor in its own right. |
