Renault EF-Type engine

The EF-Type was a Turbocharged 90° V6 racing engine developed by Renault Sport, the engine was used by Equipe Renault Elf in Formula One from 1977 to 1985. This engine derived from the CH series designed by François Castaing, the F1 engine was developed by Bernard Dudot.

EF-Type engine
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault Sport
Designer	Bernard Dudot François Castaing (base design)
Production	1977–1986
Layout
Configuration	90° V-6
Displacement	1.5 L (1,491.7 cc) 1.5 L (1,493.6 cc)
Cylinder bore	86 mm (3.39 in) 80.1 mm (3.15 in)
Piston stroke	42.8 mm (1.69 in) 49.4 mm (1.94 in)
Compression ratio	7.0:1-7.5:1
Combustion
Turbocharger	Garrett or KKK
Fuel system	Electronic fuel injection
Fuel type	Gasoline
Cooling system	Water-cooled
Output
Power output	510–1,320 bhp (380–984 kW; 517–1,338 PS)
Torque output	290–660 lb⋅ft (393–895 N⋅m)
Dimensions
Dry weight	179 kg (394.6 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	CH
Successor	RS

Renault's decision to use its 1500 cc V6 turbo engines in F1 was one of the boldest decisions ever taken in the sport. In nine full seasons competing against normally aspirated 3000 cc engines, they gave an excellent account of themselves, with:

• One World Championship Runner-Up title in 1983.
• 20 race wins (15 with Renault, 5 with Lotus).
• 50 pole positions (32 with Renault, 18 with Lotus).
• 51 podium finishes (25 with Renault, 20 with Lotus, six with Ligier).

Ultimately, as a result of their success, all F1 teams adopted turbo engines in the 1985 season.

Engines

EF1

1977–1979

Based on the 2-litre "type CHS" engine and developing 510 bhp (380 kW; 517 PS) at 11,000 rpm, this engine underwent several major changes (metallurgy, mixed air-water exchanger) before bringing the Renault RS01 its first points in 1978 and its first pole position in 1979.

• EF1: 1.5 L (1,492 cc) Bore x Stroke 86 mm × 42.8 mm (3.39 in × 1.69 in) 7.0:1 Compression, one Garrett turbocharger.

1979–1983

With its two small turbochargers, this engine reduced turbo lag considerably. It brought Renault its first F1 race win with a turbo engine (Dijon 1979). It would undergo a number of significant changes over the years (electronic injection and two-flap air intake in 1982, water injection at air intake in 1983) and its horsepower would gradually increase, eventually reaching 700 bhp (522 kW; 710 PS). In all, it claimed 15 race wins, 30 pole positions and 19 pole positions and saw both Renault and Alain Prost finish second in the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships respectively. It was also supplied to the Lotus team in 1983.

• EF1: 1.5 L (1,492 cc) Bore x Stroke 86 mm × 42.8 mm (3.39 in × 1.69 in) 7.0:1 Compression, two KKK turbochargers.

EF4

1984

This engine marked the return of Garrett turbochargers. Fitted to the Renault RE50, Lotus 95T and Ligier JS23, it could not break the dominance of the Porsche built TAG V6 engine which powered the McLaren MP4/2 to 12 wins out of 16 races. It nevertheless notched up 11 podium finishes and three pole positions and allowed Lotus driver Elio de Angelis to finish the 1984 season in 3rd place. 1984 marked the first year since 1978 that a Renault engine did not win a Formula One race. By 1984, the Renault turbo was producing approximately 750 bhp (559 kW; 760 PS) in race trim and around 900 bhp (671 kW; 912 PS) for qualifying.

• EF4: 1.5 L (1,492 cc) Bore x Stroke 86 mm × 42.8 mm (3.39 in × 1.69 in) 7.0:1 Compression, two Garrett turbochargers.

It was the last engine to be badged "Renault Gordini", as there was now a new name to promote: Renault Sport.

"Type-Bis" early 1985

This engine's defining characteristics were its centralized electronic injection and ignition control systems. Generating just over 800 bhp (597 kW; 811 PS), it powered the Renault RE60, Lotus 97T, Ligier JS25 and Tyrrell 014. It was responsible for one race win, two pole positions and two podium finishes.

• EF4: 1.5 L (1,492 cc) Bore x Stroke 86 mm × 42.8 mm (3.39 in × 1.69 in) 7.0:1 Compression, two Garrett turbochargers.

EF15

mid-1985

With greater fuel economy thanks to its new dimensions and a lower boost pressure, its horsepower nevertheless oscillated between 800 bhp (597 kW; 811 PS) and 1,000 bhp (746 kW; 1,014 PS), thanks to metallurgical developments in the turbochargers. It earned two race wins and five pole positions for Lotus, as well as ten podium finishes (four for the Lotus 97T, four for the Ligier JS25 and two for the Renault RE60).

• EF15: 1.5 L (1,494 cc) Bore x Stroke 80.1 mm × 49.4 mm (3.15 in × 1.94 in) 7.5:1 Compression, two Garrett turbochargers.

"Type-B" early 1986

This engine boasted two innovative features that would soon gain widespread acceptance – static ignition and pneumatic valve actuation – which allowed it to reach 12,500 rpm. Capable of generating 900 bhp (671 kW; 912 PS) in race trim, it would record two race wins and five pole positions with Lotus, as well as five podium finishes (three with Lotus and two with Ligier). It powered the Lotus 98T and the Ligier JS27.

• EF15B: 1.5 L (1,494 cc) Bore x Stroke 80.1 mm × 49.4 mm (3.15 in × 1.94 in) 7.5:1 Compression, two Garrett turbochargers.

"Type-C" mid 1986

Equipped with a number of new features (cylinder heads, cylinder block, waste-gate, mapping, etc.) and developing more than 1,200 bhp (895 kW; 1,217 PS) at 12,500 rpm in qualifying, this engine enabled Ayrton Senna's Lotus 98T to notch up four pole positions and three podium finishes to close the V6 turbo era in style.

Formula One World Championship results

Year	Entrants	Chassis	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WCC
1977	Equipe Renault Elf	Renault RS01	M		ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	ESP	MON	BEL	SWE	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	USA	CAN	JPN	0	-
				Jean-Pierre Jabouille										Ret			Ret	Ret	Ret	DNQ
1978	Equipe Renault Elf	Renault RS01	M		ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	MON	BEL	ESP	SWE	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	USA	CAN		3	12th
				Jean-Pierre Jabouille			Ret	Ret	10	NC	13	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	4	12
1979	Equipe Renault Elf	Renault RS01 Renault RS10	M		ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	ESP	BEL	MON	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	USA			26	6th
				Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Ret	10	Ret	DNS	Ret	Ret	8	1	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	14	Ret	Ret
				René Arnoux	Ret	Ret	Ret	DNS	9	Ret	Ret	3	2	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	2
1980	Equipe Renault Elf	Renault RE20	M		ARG	BRA	RSA	USW	BEL	MON	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	USA				38	4th
				Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Ret	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	1	Ret	Ret	Ret
				René Arnoux	Ret	1F	1F	9	4	Ret	5	NC	Ret	9PF	2PF	10P	Ret	7
1981	Equipe Renault Elf	RE20B RE30	M		USW	BRA	ARG	SMR	BEL	MON	ESP	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	CAN	CPL			54	3rd
				Alain Prost	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	1F	Ret	2P	Ret	1P	1	Ret	2
				René Arnoux	8	Ret	5	8	DNQ	Ret	9	4P	9PF	13	2P	Ret	RetP	Ret	Ret
1982	Equipe Renault Elf	RE30B	M		RSA	BRA	USW	SMR	BEL	MON	DET	CAN	NED	GBR	FRA	GER	AUT	SUI	ITA	CPL		62	3rd
				Alain Prost	1F	1PF	Ret	Ret	RetP	7	NCPF	Ret	Ret	6	2	Ret	8	2PF	Ret	4P
				René Arnoux	3P	Ret	Ret	RetP	Ret	RetP	10	Ret	RetP	Ret	1P	2	Ret	16	1F	Ret
1983	Equipe Renault Elf	RE30C RE40	M		BRA	USW	FRA	SMR	MON	BEL	DET	CAN	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	RSA			79	2nd
				Alain Prost	7	11	1PF	2	3P	1P	8	5	1F	4	1F	Ret	Ret	2	Ret
				Eddie Cheever	Ret	13	3	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	2	Ret	Ret	4	Ret	3	10	6
1984	Equipe Renault Elf	RE50	M		BRA	RSA	BEL	SMR	FRA	MON	CAN	DET	DAL	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	EUR	POR		34	5th
				Patrick Tambay	5	RetF	7	Ret	2P	Ret	WD	Ret	Ret	8	5	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	7
				Derek Warwick	Ret	3	2	4	Ret	Ret	Ret	RetF	Ret	2	3	Ret	Ret	Ret	11	Ret
				Philippe Streiff																Ret
1985	Equipe Renault Elf	RE60 RE60B	G		BRA	POR	SMR	MON	CAN	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	NED	ITA	BEL	EUR	RSA	AUS		16	7th
				Patrick Tambay	5	3	3	Ret	7	Ret	6	Ret	Ret	10	Ret	7	Ret	12		Ret
				Derek Warwick	10	7	10	5	Ret	Ret	7	5	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	Ret		Ret
				François Hesnault									Ret

See also

• Honda RA16 engine
• TAG-Porsche TTE PO1 engine
• Ferrari turbocharged V6 F1 engine
• BMW M12