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Bernard Dudot | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Nancy, France | 30 January 1939
Education | Engineering |
Alma mater | Centre d'études supérieures des techniques industrielles - St Ouen |
Occupation(s) | Engineering Director GP2 and GP3 series |
Employer(s) | GP2 Series, GP3 Series |
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]
In 1967 he joined Automobiles Alpine, after convincing Jean Rédélé. 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]
At the end of 1997 Renault left Formula One and Dudot was hired as Prost Grand Prix’s Technical Director on 1 November 1997, 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]