Bernard Dudot

Bernard Dudot (French pronunciation: ​[beʁnaʁ dydo]) (born 30 January 1939) is a French engineer who was instrumental in the development of the turbo V6 and normally aspirated V10 engines of Formula One while working for Alpine and Renault.[2][3] As of 2005, he is Head of Engineering of the GP2 Series.[4] He has a similar role in GP3 Series since the creation of that category.[5] He is also a consultant for Le Mans organisation.[1]

Bernard Dudot
Born (1939-01-30) 30 January 1939[1]
Nancy, France
NationalityFrench
EducationEngineering
Alma materCentre d'Etudes Supérieures des Techniques Industrielles
OccupationEngineering Director GP2 and GP3 series
EmployerGP2 Series , GP3 Series

Career

Alpine and Renault years

In 1967 he joined Automobiles Alpine, after convincing Jean Rédelé. Rédelé commissioned him to organize a motor development department of their own to reduce dependence on those of Gordini, Mignotet and Moteur Moderne.[6] There he began to develop a turbo engine, which would be one of the bases for the future Renault’s Formula One turbo engine.[3][6] In 1971, he tuned a R16’s engine to be mounted on a chassis designed by André de Cortanze for the French F3 Championship.[7]

In 1973, before the merger between Alpine and Renault-Gordini, Jean Terramorsi, Chairman of the second company, sent Dudot to the United States to study the potential of turbo technology in motorsport.[8] There he was finally convinced of the possibilities.[3][2] Back in France, he went to work at the Renault Sport’s Viry-Châtillon factory where he and other developers (François Castaing and Jean-Pierre Boudy) began adapting the CH1 (a two-litre engine for F2 and Sport) to make it a smaller turbo engine.[2][9]

In early 1975, Castaing took a more administrative role and Boudy went to the design office, so Dudot was left in charge of developing an engine for Le Mans and the secret design of the 1.5-litre turbo for Formula One.[2][9] After some tests, the car fitted with the new and innovative Renault-Gordini EF1 engine, the RS01, debuted at the 1977 British Grand Prix.[2][10]

In 1980, when Castaing was transferred to other activities within Renault and left Renault Sport, Dudot was appointed Technical Director.[2][11] In 1986, he led the design of the EF15B[12] power plant, which included for the first time in Formula One the pneumatic valve return, an innovation that would have a major impact on the era of atmospheric engines.[3][13] At the end of that year, Renault ceased its turbo programme.[3] Soon after, Patrick Faure entrusted to him to design a naturally aspirated engine in view of the regulations that would take effect from 1989.[14] He devised a 3.5-litre V10 that was revolutionary at a time when other manufacturers were betting on the V8 and V12.[2][3][12]

Prost Grand Prix, USA interlude and return to Renault

At the end of 1997 Renault left Formula One and Dudot was hired as Prost Grand Prix’s Technical Director, but in June 1999 he was replaced by Alan Jenkins.[2] In 2001, he joined Nissan’s Infiniti engine programme in the Indy Racing League as Project Manager.[15] On 26 February 2003, after some time with Menard, he was rehired by Renault as Deputy Managing Director in charge of the Renault F1 Team's engine department at Viry-Châtillon.[16][17] He left that position on 1 April 2005 and his functions were divided between Rob White and André Lainé.[18]

References
  1. "Bernard Dudot". Oldracingcars.com. 16 November 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  2. "People: Bernard Dudot". Grandprix.com. Inside F1. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. Scarborough, Craig. "Technically Challenged: Renault Innovations in Formula One" (PDF). Atlas F1. ScarbsF1.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 August 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  4. "Bernard Dudot joins the GP2 series". Auto123.com. 5 April 2005. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  5. "The Staff". GP3Series.com. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  6. Smith, Roy (2008). Alpine & Renault: The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car 1968 to 1979. Veloce Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 1845841778.
  7. Smith, Roy (2008). Alpine & Renault: The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car 1968 to 1979. Veloce Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 1845841778.
  8. Smith, Roy (2008). Alpine & Renault: The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car 1968 to 1979. Veloce Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 1845841778.
  9. Smith, Roy (2008). Alpine & Renault: The Development of the Revolutionary Turbo F1 Car 1968 to 1979. Veloce Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 1845841778.
  10. "RS01". Renault. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  11. Saward, Joe (1 August 1992). "Interview: Bernard Dutot". Grandprix.com. Inside F1. Archived from the original on 21 May 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  12. "Renault and F1" (PDF). Renault. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  13. Taulbut, Derek. "Note 89 - TurboCharging background" (PDF). Grand Prix Engine Development 1906 - 2000. Grandprixengines.co.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  14. "People: Patrick Faure". Grandprix.com. Inside F1. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  15. "Friday notebook: New hire". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. May 25, 2001. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  16. "Engine Designer Bernard Dudot Rejoins Renault". SPEEDTV.com. 26 February 2003. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  17. "Engine wizard Dudot rejoins Renault". autosport.com. Haymarket Publishing. 27 February 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  18. "Bernard Dudot to retire from Renault". ManipeF1.com. 16 March 2005. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
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