Renault to run KERS in Melbourne
Renault is the first team to give its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) the green light to run at the Australian Grand Prix
While most teams are still undecided about whether or not to introduce the technology for the start of the new season, Renault has seen enough of its device to sign it off for use in Melbourne.
The move ends fears that no teams would choose to use the technology in Australia, although Renault will still be in the minority of outfits who will have KERS ready for the first race.
McLaren, BMW-Sauber and Ferrari have not declared publicly about whether or not they will press their devices into action, while six teams have already confirmed they will not race it in Australia.
Williams, Toyota, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Red Bull Racing, Force India and Brawn GP will all head into the Melbourne event without the technology, although most of them are expected to introduce the systems later in the year.
Renault admitted early in testing that it was surprised about how well its KERS system was running, having been sceptical about its state of development beforehand.
Speaking after the first running of the new R29 in February, technical director Bob Bell said: "The biggest surprise for [us] was perhaps the KERS system as we felt that initially we would have a lot of problems with it and getting the drivers used to it. In reality it has been quite a straightforward transition."
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