The car was powered by the 1.5L turbocharged Renault Gordini EF1 engine, which by 1981 was producing a reported 520 bhp (388 kW; 527 PS).

This was roughly 50 more than the 3.0L Cosworth DFV V8 still in wide use at the time in Formula One, though Renault's power did lag behind the new 560 bhp (418 kW; 568 PS) turbocharged engine being used by Ferrari.

Driving the RE20 in 1980 were Jean-Pierre Jabouille and René Arnoux, while in 1981 Arnoux continued with the team but Jabouille was replaced by a young Alain Prost who had made his Formula One debut in 1980 for McLaren.

Arnoux won both the Brazilian and South African races while Jabouille was the winner of the Austrian Grand Prix.

(key) (note: results shown in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) * 48 points scored in 1981 using the Renault RE30 Italics indicate factory team.