Renault R31

The Renault R31, also known as the Lotus Renault R31, was a Formula One racing car designed by Lotus Renault GP for the 2011 Formula One season. James Allison, Naoki Tokunaga, Tim Densham, Nick Chester and Dirk de Beer designed the chassis, with Rob White leading the engine design, and Vitaly Petrov and Nick Heidfeld drove it until Bruno Senna replaced Heidfeld mid-season. It was unveiled at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia on 31 January 2011 and drew attention for a radical forward exhaust layout that became a major disadvantage, with low downforce at slow circuits, and designer James Allison later called it a failed experiment. Petrov took a podium in the opening round in Melbourne, and Renault finished fifth in the Constructors' Championship with a best result of third place. It wore a black and gold livery as a tribute to the Team Lotus cars of the 1980s.