Formula One news

Renault eyeing KERS for Italy

The Renault team admits that placing the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) back onto its car could be a wise decision ahead of the Italian Grand Prix on the second weekend of September. The French marque believes that the characteristics of the Monza circuit could be perfect in order for the device to function most effectively.

Monza is likely to be one of the most KERS-efficient tracks of the campaign

With Spa this weekend and Monza following a fortnight later, the two races are the final couple to be hosted in Europe this year although, with two long straights and other fast-flowing sections separated by slow chicanes, Bob Bell believes that KERS could be effective.

"We're always adding new developments and for the next couple of races we'll be using a low downforce package on the car," explained the team's Technical Director. "As for KERS, we don't plan to use it in Spa but we're considering it for Monza as we believe it will provide a real advantage there."

Bell chats with FIA race director Charlie Whiting in Valencia

The system functions by collecting kinetic (movement) energy from the active engine of the car whilst under braking or simply not on the throttle; this energy is then converted by KERS into an electrical state for storage in a battery before being changed back into its kinetic form in order to supply an 80 horsepower boost for a total of 6.6 seconds per lap, either all together or in bursts. With Monza's three chicanes ideal for recharging the system and the straight sections practical for deploying the increase in power, Bell and his team will continue analysis.

"Pushing the development of the R29 late into the season while also working on the R30 is stretching our resources to the limit," he admitted. "We're managing things on a week-by-week basis and gradually allocating more and more resources onto next year's car whist still pushing hard to improve the R29."

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