Renault F1 Team Announces 2007 Structure
The Renault F1 Team has announced its plans for the
2007 season and beyond.
The Renault F1 Team today announced the beginning of a new
era for the reigning world champions, from the start of the
2007 season. Under the continued, dynamic leadership of Flavio
Briatore and his senior technical staff, Giancarlo Fisichella
and Heikki Kovalainen will lead the French manufacturer's
challenge in the 2007 season, aided by a team of test drivers
composed of Brazilians Ricardo Zonta and Nelson Piquet Jr.
A Stable Management Structure
The Renault F1 Team is delighted to announce that Managing
Director Flavio Briatore, 56, has renewed his contract for
the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Having led Renault's Formula 1
operations since 2000, when it purchased the Benetton team,
Briatore is perfectly placed to manage the team into its next
competitive cycle.
Furthermore, Briatore has reconfirmed the current technical
management structure, which has championship-winning credentials.
This will ensure continuity at the team's technical centres
of Enstone (UK) and Viry-Châtillon (FR) under the respective
leadership of Bob Bell and Pat Symonds, and André Lainé
and Rob White. This stability will be crucial as the team
adapts to significant short-term technical changes: the transition
to a single tyre supplier from 2007, the introduction of homologated
engines and the brand new Technical Regulations that will
come into force in 2008.
Renault President Carlos Ghosn commented: "Under Flavio's
leadership, the team achieved a remarkable double in 2005
by winning the Drivers' and Constructors' championships, and
maintaining that competitiveness in 2006. I am counting on
the determination, talent and effectiveness of Flavio and
the entire Renault F1 Team, under the Presidency of Alain
Dassas, to once again take Renault to the forefront of Formula
1."
Flavio Briatore said: "I am delighted to continue to
lead Renault's Formula 1 challenge. It is an honour to be
working for one of the top global companies, and with one
of the world's leading managers. The commitment and enthusiasm
Carlos Ghosn has shown for the Formula 1 project over the
past year has been a key factor in my decision.
"It is now important for the Renault F1 Team to begin
a fresh cycle of development from 2007, with a reinvigorated
driver line-up and several major new commercial partners.
This is the key to performing at the top level in the medium
and long term.
"We begin this new cycle on the platform of a stable
management structure, headed by team President Alain Dassas,
with whom I enjoy an excellent working relationship, and myself.
We know how important it is to manage change in an organisation,
and we have a close-knit, dynamic team capable of fighting
for victory. I am confident Renault will be a major force
in Formula 1 in the years to come."
Blending Youth and Experience in the Cockpit
Having confirmed Giancarlo Fisichella as a 2007 race driver
last June, the Renault F1 Team is pleased to announce that
current test driver Heikki Kovalainen, 24, will race alongside
him in 2007. The latest in a proud tradition of Flying Finns,
Heikki has completed over 28,000 km of testing for the Renault
F1 Team since 2004, and was vice-champion of the GP2 Series
in 2005. He is now ready to make the step up to a Formula
1 race drive, and will have the unique opportunity to do so
in a top-line team.
Heikki Kovalainen commented: "I am thrilled to get the
opportunity to race with a world champion team like Renault.
I have been a member of the Renault Driver Development programme
since 2002, when I had the distant ambition of one day becoming
an F1 driver. It is a fantastic feeling to have finally achieved
that. My two seasons testing for the team, as well as my time
in GP2, have allowed me to build my technical knowledge and
to understand what it takes to win in Formula 1. I have also
had the opportunity to show the team what I can do, and it
is a great motivation to know that they believe in me. It
will be a fantastic feeling to line up on the grid in Melbourne,
but that is still a long way off. At the moment, I am totally
focused on helping Renault win the 2006 championship."
The race drivers will be joined by a team of test drivers
for the 2007 season, composed of Brazilians Ricardo Zonta
and Nelson Piquet Jr.
Ricardo Zonta, 30, possesses eight seasons of Formula 1 experience,
both as a race and test driver. His proven track record, combined
with extensive technical knowledge, will be major assets in
the development of the 2007 challenger and its adaptation
to the new tyre regulations. He will join the Renault F1 Team
after four seasons at Toyota.
Nelson Piquet Jr., 21, has marked himself out as man of the
future during the 2005 A1 Grand Prix and 2006 GP2 Series championships.
Son of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, Nelsinho has
shown both speed and guile in GP2, taking four race wins and
five pole positions so far to put him second in the championship,
with two races remaining. His role with the Renault F1 Team
will allow him to develop his credentials in motorsport's
leading discipline.
Flavio Briatore commented: "Everybody
at Renault is very optimistic about our driver line-up for
2007 and beyond. We have taken the conscious decision to build
for the future, without compromising the stability of the
team in the short term. Giancarlo is a proven force in Formula
1 and Heikki is already fully integrated into the team. After
seeing performances in testing this season, we have very high
hopes for him. It is also a pleasure to welcome Ricardo and
Nelsinho, who each bring different qualities to the team:
Ricardo will have a key role to play in preparing for 2007,
while Nelsinho has shown this year that he deserves his place
in Formula 1. 2007 is the start of something new for Renault,
and we believe it will be an exciting season."
|
