Renault shrug off effect of Michelin exit

"We go into 2006 as World Champions, and we are determined to defend those titles," technical director Bob Bell told the team's website.

"I have no doubt that Michelin intend to do exactly the same. We have already seen enhanced collaboration between the Michelin teams this winter, and a rapid rate of tyre development.

"We are confident this will continue until the final round of 2006."

Michelin announced on Wednesday that they would pull out at the end of 2006 because of the governing body's decision to move to a single supplier in 2008.

The French company won all but one of the 19 races this year, the exception being the six-car U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis that the seven Michelin teams did not start due to tyre safety concerns.

Renault won eight races, with Spaniard Fernando Alonso becoming the youngest World Champion at the age of 24.

Alonso was testing in Jerez in southern Spain on Friday, his first outing since the end of the season in October, to get a feel for the reduced power he will have next year as a result of the switch from V10 engines to V8.

"He's just doing one day to get a feel for it, have a think about it over Christmas and be ready for the new car," said a spokesman.

Renault are not due to run their 2006 car until January 10 but Bell said it would be fired up for the first time next week. Tests with a restricted V10 had gone very well.

"The drivers have noticed that we need quite a different set-up on the car, so we have worked hard to understand what is required, and give ourselves a solid baseline for our work with the new car in January," he said.

"Equally, we have done a lot of tyre development to begin adapting to the new regulations in this area, and we have reaped the benefits of a reliable package to conduct a lot of running and make good progress."

Tyre changes will be allowed again next year after a season where tyres had to last for qualifying and the race.