F1: Tokunaga Joins Renault To Head V6 Program

Formula 1

F1: Tokunaga Joins Renault To Head V6 Program

Naoki Tokunaga is leaving his role as Lotus F1 deputy technical director, and has joined Renault Sport to head up its V6 turbo program...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted April 05, 2012 Balen (BEL)

Naoki Tokunaga joined Lotus in the Benetton era as a vehicle dynamics engineer. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Erstwhile Lotus F1 deputy technical director Naoki Tokunaga has joined Renault Sport to head up its V6 turbo program for 2014, and has been given the title of Technical Director, New Power Unit.

The Japanese engineer will report to Renault Sport’s deputy managing director (technical), Rob White.

Tokunaga joined Lotus in the Benetton era as a vehicle dynamics engineer, and became head of control systems in 2002.

Renault says that the 46-year-old “will coordinate external technical partnerships, including the collaboration with Red Bull Technology, and will assess the requirements and contributions of confirmed or prospective partner teams.”

The company adds that “of particular value will be Naoki’s detailed F1 knowledge and his experience of the engineering of complex systems, energy recovery systems, powertrain control and whole vehicle performance trade-offs.

White explained: “The new power unit regulations are very challenging. We expect the internal combustion engine and energy recovery systems that make up the power unit from 2014 to contribute relatively more to overall vehicle performance than the current engine and KERS. Naoki will be an important asset to Renault Sport F1 with skills that are complementary to those of the existing Viry technical team.”

James Allison of Lotus said: “While we are sad on a personal level to see Naoki leave Enstone, we believe this move will be overall positive for Renault Sport F1’s customers.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.