Renault RE 60-01B – 1985
Patrick Tambay
A pioneer in the introduction of turbocharged engines in Formula 1 in 1977, Renault ended 1984 with results below expectations and the departure of key figures such as Gérard Larrousse and Michel Têtu. Nevertheless, Renault Sport’s management, led by Max Mangenot, opted for continuity, convinced that Formula 1 remained an essential strategic objective for the French brand.
The Renault RE60 was introduced in January 1985, featuring an aerodynamic silhouette similar to its predecessor, the RE50, but with significant technical modifications. The radiators were repositioned relative to the car’s longitudinal axis—rather than to the ground, as before—allowing hot air to escape laterally without disturbing the airflow over the rear diffuser. The suspension was completely redesigned. The centerpiece of the project was the EF15 engine, a turbocharged V6 that, in its definitive version the following year, was capable of generating over 1,000 horsepower in qualifying trim. At the start of the season, however, the RE60s were equipped with the intermediate EF4B version, awaiting the maturation of the new powerplant. The car was entrusted to two drivers: Frenchman Patrick Tambay and Briton Derek Warwick.
The 1985 season was marked by frustration. The team’s best results were two third-place finishes by Tambay—at the Portuguese Grand Prix, raced in the rain in April, and at Imola (San Marino) in May. Performance was inconsistent, reliability proved problematic, and a paradox became unavoidable: the Lotus team, using the same engine, clearly outperformed its suppliers, claiming several pole positions and three victories (two for Ayrton Senna and one for Elio De Angelis). On August 27, 1985, Renault’s president, Georges Besse, announced the team’s withdrawal from the competition. However, they remained as an engine supplier, achieving enormous success over the following decades and contributing to 12 world championships.
The RE60-01B chassis presented here is one of eight units built. It first appeared at the 1985 French Grand Prix, weighing 30 kg lighter than the original RE60, with lower sidepods, a new aeroscreen, a narrower rear engine cover, and a different positioning for the oil radiators. Used primarily for development, it was driven in practice sessions by both team drivers, Patrick Tambay and Derek Warwick, but was never raced. It was handed over to Renault’s Public Relations department at the end of 1985 and has remained in the French brand’s possession ever since. Its last public appearance was in 2007, driven by Érik Comas. It features the black and yellow Renault livery of the era and the number 15 of Patrick Tambay, the most successful driver in this single-seater.
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Brand and Model: Renault RE 60-01B
Year: 1985
Country: France
Power: 770-810 hp / 11,500-12,500 rpm
Capacity: 1,494 cc
Weight: 540 kg
Top Speed: 330 km/h
Engine: Renault Gordini V6 twin-turbo
Designers: Bernard Dudot (Technical Director) and Jean-Marc D’adda (Aerodynamics)
Best Result: 3rd place (Portuguese GP and San Marino GP)