Editing Robert Choulet

{{short description|French aerodynamicist}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2009}}
'''Robert Choulet''' (born 28 February 1935) is a French [[aerodynamics]] engineer influential in race car [[Dynamics (mechanics)|dynamics]].

==Career==
A disciple of aerodynamics pioneer [[Charles Deutsch]], Choulet worked for Deutsch's Société d'Études et de Réalisations Automobiles (SERA-CD ) from 1963 to 1967. During this period, he worked on the aerodynamics of the CD cars.

He then joined Matra in 1968. One of his first projects was the Matra M640 [[Le Mans 24 Hours]] car. Following that, he returned to SERA-CD and was involved in designing the famous [[Porsche 917]] especially the LH version, and the [[Can-Am]] cars that followed. He later was influential in designing the [[Alfa Romeo 33TT12]].

From 1976 to 1980, Choulet worked with the [[Equipe Ligier|Ligier]] [[Formula One]] team, being involved in the design of the [[Ligier JS5|JS5]], [[Ligier JS7|JS7]], [[Ligier JS9|JS9]], [[Ligier JS11|JS11]] and [[Ligier JS11/15|JS11/15]] models.

SERA and Choulet also worked with the [[Alfa Romeo in motorsport|Alfa Romeo]] sports car team in 1977 and on Alfa's Formula One car in 1979.

Choulet created the Aérodyne company in 1983 working on such different cars as Formula Ford Rondeau and Audi Quattro for rally racing. He then worked for many years for [[Peugeot]]. He was also influential in the [[Group C]] [[Peugeot 905]] programme (notably the Ev1bis and Ev 2 "Supercopter" with radical aerodynamic solutions) as well as for [[Jordan Grand Prix|Jordan]] Formula One team and the rally cars Peugeot 206 and Citroën Xsara WRC.

In the 2000s, he became involved with Panasonic [[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota Racing]] and has been a consultant for [[Toyota Motorsport GmbH]] (TMG) in Cologne since 2011.

==Education==
*[[Lycée du Parc]]
*[[Ecole centrale Paris]] in 1959
*[[IFP School]] - Ecole Nationale Supérieure du Pétrole et des Moteurs (Major : Engines) in 1960.

==Distinctions==
*Joseph Béthenod Prize
*Society of Automotive Engineers : Massion Award (1987)

==Others==
*Membership : SIA (Society of Automotive Engineers)
*Auto Hebdo n° 229, 21 August 1980

==References==
*[http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/cref-chorob.html Robert Choulet profile at GrandPrix.com]
*[http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Robert%20Choulet&type=G Robert Choulet profile at ChicaneF1]
*S.I.A. Journal [[Société des ingénieurs de l'automobile]], September 1984 issue : ''Rappel des conclusions sur le comportement des véhicules freinés à grande vitesse''
*Auto Technologies Congress, Monte-Carlo, January 1985 : ''La stabilité de plate-forme des véhicules futurs''

==External links==
*[http://www.sogeclair.com/filiales/sera/fondation.php SERA]
{{Alfa Romeo F1}}
{{Equipe Matra Sports}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Choulet, Robert}}
[[Category:French automotive engineers]]
[[Category:Formula One designers]]
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Aerodynamicists]]
[[Category:French motorsport people]]
[[Category:Alfa Romeo people]]


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