» Renault’s R31 unwrapped

Immediately following Sauber’s launch of its C30 car, the Renault F1 team has taken the covers off its 2011 championship contender, the R31.

Bedecked in its much-discussed black-and-gold livery brought about by heavy investment from Group Lotus, the car was presented by team bosses Gerard Lopez and Eric Boullier, as well as the team’s main drivers Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov.

The team has also presented a bevy of five – yes, five – test and reserve drivers for the 2011 season: with the already-confirmed Fairuz Fauzy joined by the recovered Ho-Pin Tung (fresh from a back injury sustained in GP2 competition last year), former reserve driver Romain Grosjean, Jan Charouz and HRT refugee Bruno Senna.

Senna’s appointment is certainly a well-kept secret, and the Brazilian is pleased to have secured a role to remain in Formula 1.

“It’s a great leap of faith from them to give me this shot, so I’m very happy,” said Senna. “I’m very excited. I hope this year can get better and better.”

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Describing the new car as being “on the brave end of brave”, the car features a lower nose section than its predecessor and some serious sculpting around the rear end towards its quite large rear diffuser.

[Original image via AUTOSPORT, LAT and Sutton Images]