ING Renault F1 Team kicks off 2008 with Paris launch - 31
JAN 2008
The ING Renault F1 Team today officially launched its 2008
season as it revealed the brand new Renault F1 R28 and its
driver line-up at Renault's communications headquarters in
Boulogne-Billancourt, on the banks of the Seine in south-west
Paris.
The ceremony was attended by Renault President and CEO Carlos
Ghosn, along with 500 media and VIP guests from around the
world, including Michel Tilmant, Chairman of the Executive
Board of ING Group, the team announced its determination to
return to the front of the F1 field in 2008, thanks to a combination
of aggressive design concepts in the new car, and the talents
of the sport's only active double world champion, Fernando
Alonso, allied to rookie Nelson Piquet.
ING Renault F1 Team President Bernard Rey explained that
the team had set itself demanding targets for the new season.
"We expect to see the team back in its normal place,
fighting at the front of the field," explained Rey. "This
is the target the team has set for the new car. On the technical
side, everybody has worked hard to overcome the problems encountered
last year. On the driver front, Fernando Alonso's return was
an important boost. There is optimism inside the team and
within Renault."
Rey also reinforced the value of the Formula 1 programme
to the Renault Group, as a pillar of the company's global
sales and marketing strategies. "Formula 1 is a powerful
tool for building brand awareness in non-traditional markets,
and Renault's sales outside Western Europe grew by 16.5% in
2007" he concluded. "Our status as a leading team
demonstrates Renault can build vehicles that deliver performance,
reliability and high technology. From an overall perspective,
Formula 1 is a meaningful and profitable investment for Renault."
R28: blending new solutions and proven technology
The ING Renault F1 Team's hopes for the 2008 reason rest
on the all-new Renault F1 R28. The car ran for the first time
last week in Valencia, on Monday 21 January. During the four-day
test, the car completed over 1500 km, indicating strong early
reliability in spite of numerous changes to the 2008 technical
regulations, including the introduction of the Standard ECU
and long-life gearboxes. The team also made encouraging progress
with set-up and performance development, allowing the car's
debut to be judged as promising.
The new car represents a shift in design philosophy from
its predecessor, in order to extract optimum performance from
the Bridgestone tyres that all competitors have used since
the start of 2007. The new car features revised weight distribution
and a new aerodynamic concept to match, which has been enabled
by the introduction of a "zero-keel" front suspension
mounting. The monocoque and bodywork to improve the packaging
of the car's mechanical systems while under the skin, the
SECU and new gearbox represent the biggest changes. As with
all new designs, the team has worked hard to improve stiffness
and remove weight throughout the car, to provide maximum set-up
adjustability from circuit to circuit.
Technical Director Bob Bell labelled the car "much less
evolutionary" than its predecessor, continuing: "2007
was a very poor year by our standards. For 2008, there are
high expectations inside and outside the team, and it is down
to us to give the drivers a competitive car. We have put the
problems from 2007 behind us and in terms of the car design,
we have looked at the problem afresh. The team pushed very
hard in all areas, and particularly on the aerodynamics. The
front end of the car has come in for special attention with
a brand new front wing and the front suspension. The rear
end has also been heavily reworked, and we haven't neglected
the basics. The car ran reliably in its first test, and we
made encouraging progress on performance development last
week. We are confident that the advances we have seen in the
wind tunnel will be reflected on track."
The car will once again be powered by the RS27 V8 engine,
which remains substantially the same as last year's unit,
given the engine homologation rules currently in force. Engine
ancillaries must be homologated by the first race of the year,
while the team has also had a heavy workload adapting to the
demands of the SECU.
"The transition to the SECU was a big workload, and
remains so," explained Deputy Managing Director (Engines),
Rob White. "The unit itself is the most obvious change
for the new season, but there are many new software tools
and programmes that accompany it. We have had to adapt to
them all, and learn how to get the most from them. While we
are not allowed to develop the engine itself, there remains
much to do to assure its reliability in-car performance. These
V8's remain complicated and sophisticated, and we must be
vigilant about component supply and quality, and concerning
changes in the way the engine is used in the car. We are determined
to return to the front, and we have worked tirelessly towards
this goal for many months."
Back to the future
The ING Renault F1 Team's race drivers for 2008 will be double
world champion Fernando Alonso and rookie Nelson Piquet. Alonso
returns ‘home' to the team where he won his two world
titles after a sabbatical season with rivals McLaren-Mercedes,
and has already reacclimatised to life at Renault. He has
tested twice with the team this month, setting fastest time
at the recent Jerez test with the old R27, before beginning
the initial on-track development of the R28 last week in Valencia.
The Spaniard scored 15 of his 19 career wins with Renault,
and is the only man to have finished in the world championship
top three over the past three seasons.
"The entire team is absolutely determined to get back
to the top, they are pushing very hard and that is a big motivation
for me," commented the 26 year old Spaniard. "First
and foremost, I am a racer, and I obviously want to win. I
will do my maximum to make that happen, and I know that is
what is expected from me. Some people have suggested that
I have unfinished business from 2007, but that's not the way
I look at it. I am preparing for this season the same way
I always have done: by concentrating on my job. My first feeling
with the car was good and the team is working incredibly hard.
It looks encouraging at the moment."
Nelson Piquet will partner Alonso in his debut Formula 1
season, as another famous name returns to the sport. While
Nelsinho may carry a famous name, he is determined to make
his own mark in F1, and to build on the experience he gained
last year as test driver for the ING Renault F1 Team. The
2006 GP2 series runner-up was also the youngest ever British
F3 champion during his junior career, and the 22 year old
Brazilian will now look to confirm his potential at the highest
level.
"Melbourne still seems a long way off to me," commented
Nelsinho. "We have a lot of work to do beforehand, and
I am focused on the next test sessions and our development
programme. That will help me improve my physical condition
too, because driving is always the best preparation; and I
can continue learning to make sure I am ready for my first
Grand Prix. My aim this year is to get the maximum out of
the package, and to do a good job for the team. There will
be a lot to learn and I not underestimating the challenge
of Formula 1."
The race driver pairing will be aided in their test and development
work by third driver Lucas di Grassi, runner-up in the 2007
GP2 series championship, and test driver Romain Grosjean,
who will also compete in the 2008 GP2 series with ART Grand
Prix. 23 year old Brazilian di Grassi will conduct the majority
of the team's development work alongside Fernando and Nelsinho,
while Grosjean will get his first taste of F1 at a number
of tests during the year. The 21 year old Swiss-born Frenchman
has already made a flying start to his season in GP2, taking
a double victory in the opening rounds of the GP2 Asia championship
last weekend.
A stronger team at every level
The ING Renault F1 Team enters the 2008 season in rude health,
following substantial technology investments by Renault SA
during 2007 and the acquisition of new commercial partners
for 2008. The CFD centre of excellence is currently under
construction at Enstone, and will be operational by the second
half of 2008. The facility will provide cutting-edge development
resources for the team and also for the development of more
efficient road cars in future Renault ranges. Coupled to a
stable technical team with a proven track record, the outlook
for the new season is positive.
"We have the strength in depth to overcome our disappointments,"
concluded Managing Director Flavio Briatore. "Renault
has invested for the future at Enstone, especially with the
new CFD Centre, which gives us the stability we need to move
forward. The new car is a change in direction for the team,
and we have been aggressive with the concept. When you add
in Fernando's ability to lead the team on the track, it is
a powerful combination. Remember, in 2007 we finished third
in the championship with a bad car, that we did not develop
for half of the season. For 2008, we have a good car –
and a world champion driver. The situation looks promising."
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