European GP Preview Quotes: Renault

Jarno Trulli

Q. Nurburgring was the scene of your best result in Formula 1 in 1999: what is your opinion of the circuit?

JT:

I'd call it a normal circuit. I enjoy them all, and this is no exception! From a driver's point of view, it is actually fairly easy, the circuit is not particularly technical, and the most important thing is to find a good rhythm. In terms of the changes made last year, I wouldn't say they are negative, but the straight is still too short for it to be a genuine overtaking opportunity: if you are looking to pass somebody, the back straight is still the best place to try.

Q. The Nurburgring is known as a circuit where local knowledge can pay dividends. You raced here in Formula Three, and do you think it is still a benefit?

JT:

Yes, I do. I know the circuit very well from my time in German F3, and that detailed knowledge is always important. Local knowledge is crucial for getting a feel of what the weather is likely to do, and planning your strategy accordingly. We should be competitive, and I am looking forward to starting the second half of the season with a good finish.

Fernando Alonso

Q. How well do you know the Nurburgring, and what are the challenges from your perspective?

FA:

I raced here in 2001 so I know the circuit quite well, but of course it has changed since then. The new section will definitely be the most difficult part of the track for me because I don't know it at all, but I have the advantage of running on Friday morning. By the time practice starts, I will have learned the circuit properly and I think we can be confident of performing well.

Q. And how competitive do you hope to be?

FA:

We had a very good test in Jerez last week. We completed over 200 laps, which was fantastic in terms of reliability, and we found some interesting solutions with the tyres and set-up. We were very fast, as I set the fastest time on both days, and I am looking forward to the weekend ahead. The Nurburgring should be a circuit that suits us.

Allan McNish, Test Driver

Q. Having reached the halfway stage of the season, how happy are you with 2003 so far?

AM:

Overall, I think our first half of the season has been better than most people expected, both in terms of the actual results, but also what we have achieved out of our limited testing and the Friday morning running at the races. On a personal level, I think I have re-established my position in Formula 1, and this year has allowed me to expand my knowledge by working in a big team, with such a good group of people, and driving a competitive F1 car.

Q. How enjoyable is the Nurburgring from a driver's perspective?

AM:

The Nurburgring is a place with a lot of history, although most of it happened out on the old Nordschleife. Certainly, we expect the circuit to suit our car, but it is a more a track for the fans to enjoy spectating at, than for us to enjoy driving. We saw some changes last year which, while they didn't enhance the circuit from a pure driving perspective, did at least create a new overtaking opportunity. After a positive test this week, we can look forward to gaining more points in the race.

Mike Gascoyne, Technical Director

Q. How pleased were you with the team's performance in Canada?

MG:

Canada was an excellent performance, although we were disappointed not to get two cars to the finish. Fernando, in particular, was tremendously competitive at a track that we did not expect to suit our package, and it was very gratifying to finish just behind the leader. Canada was a good race for us, and the Nurburgring should suit the car even better.

Q. How so?

MG:

The Nurburgring is a high-downforce circuit, and we already know the car is very efficient in that kind of configuration. What's more, Michelin have been doing a fantastic job, particularly on their dry-weather performance, and we are confident that our recent testing will serve us well for the upcoming races.

Q. Taking this into account, what are your objectives for this race?

MG:

First of all, we have to make sure we get two cars to the finish. If we do, then we expect two very competitive finishes, which will help us in achieving our main aim of claiming third place in the Constructors' Championship.

Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering

Q. Rain is always possible, if not indeed probable, at the Nurburgring. Given this, how pleased were you with wet performance in Canada?

PS:

Conditions in the rain can vary widely, and the cars need to be able to run on anything from a flooded circuit to one that is damp with a dry line. This makes it extremely difficult to produce a tyre that manages to cover the whole spectrum, and it is inevitable that a particular tyre will better suit particular conditions, and these, of course, may not be the same for the two manufacturers: a team may be extremely competitive one day, and uncompetitive the next. The Michelin tyre proved strong in Montreal, and the R23 was as competitive as any of the other Michelin-partner cars.

Q. Ambient temperatures can often be lower at this race than elsewhere in Europe at this time of year. Will this pose any problems?

PS:

The low temperatures you often encounter at the Nurburgring do not pose any particular difficulties for either the car or its Michelin tyres. Technology is such these days that tyre compounds can be tuned for different circuit temperatures, and with tyre selection made just one week before the event, we are able to have a good idea of the sort of temperatures we might encounter.

Q. What new developments are on the car for this race?

PS:

We will have small improvements on the chassis and aerodynamics as items which have been race-approved in our Heathrow and private testing are brought into the programme. The engine is also undergoing a phase of continuous development and for this race, following a successful test at Jerez, we hope to debut changes that will both improve mid-range power and allow us to in ease engine rpm.