Renault Exceeded Targets, Says Gascoyne

Renault technical director Mike Gascoyne believes that Fernando Alonso's victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix is a sign of things to come in Formula One.

Alonso became the youngest Grand Prix winner in claiming Renault's first success since 1983 and Gascoyne believes that the success will spark improvements in performance and eventually result in a title challenge.

Gascoyne also admitted the French squad had also exceeded their targets for the 2003 season.

"I think we can say it is a very significant milestone for the whole team," Gascoyne said of the win. "To win World Championships, first you have to win races. It is only a step on the way to bigger things, but a significant one.

"We didn't just win the race, I think we dominated the weekend. Our drivers were P1 in every qualifying session, and Fernando won the race from pole, leading practically every lap. Basically, we got everything right.

"If you look at our performance in terms of the targets we have been given by Renault, we have exceeded them each year. This team is going from strength to strength. Currently, we are ahead of schedule on what is a very realistic programme. We made a big step last season, and we hope to do so again."

Gascoyne, who is currently hard at work on next year's car, praised the maturity of 22-year-old Spaniard Alonso following the dominant victory at the Hungaroring. That success followed a second place finish in Alonso's home race in Spain earlier in the year when Gascoyne was amazed how the Spaniard handled the pressure of expectancy.

"Fernando gave the kind of measured performance everybody knew he is capable of," he said. "Ahead of the race in Spain, we said that if he could put in a strong drive under that kind of pressure, it would show he was something special.

"This weekend, he proved that he is a young driver who does not feel pressure, enjoys his job and also happens to possess a supreme talent behind the wheel."