Alonso Prepares to Fight Back

Renault's Fernando Alonso intends to finish the 2004 season with a flourish after three retirements in the last four races.

The 22-year-old Spaniard, who last August became the youngest winner of a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, will be looking for his first podium in nine races as the Championship enters its second half in France this weekend.

Alonso is fifth overall, 16 points behind fourth placed Italian teammate Jarno Trulli, while Renault are second in the Constructors' Championship but 76 points adrift of dominant Ferrari.

"Overall it is better than I expected but more in terms of our position in the constructors' championship than my own place in the drivers' standings," said Alonso in a team preview for Magny-Cours, Renault's home race.

"It is a bit of a surprise for us to be second - McLaren and Williams have dropped down, but the performance of BAR has been a surprise...I think we can expect a very close battle through the summer.

"Personally...I do not think it is too bad to be fifth. I have not finished three races, and started from the back in two of them. So I am reasonably pleased, but I expect to be much stronger in the second half of the year."

Renault's technical director Bob Bell said the team, who suffered two retirements in Canada and saw Alonso crash out of the last US Grand Prix with a puncture at high speed, had missed opportunities in North America.

"Undoubtedly with better reliability and - in Indianapolis - a little more pace, we could have continued to strengthen our championship position," he said. "We must achieve consistent reliability again and we certainly cannot afford to lose the opportunity of podium finishes."

Bell further said Renault would have suspension modifications and an aerodynamic update for the French Grand Prix.