Renault's China charge

Hot on the heels of last week's signing of Jacques Villeneuve for the last three grands prix of the season, the French team has announced that it will take two brand new lightweight chassis to the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.

"We will run new front and rear wings for this race," said Renault's technical director Bob Bell, "and also introduce two new lightweight chassis that we have tested successfully at Monza and Silverstone, all of which represent a useful step forward in terms of performance.

"The new chassis is part of our on-going weight reduction programme aimed at optimising the car's performance, and the fact that we are introducing such major developments at thus stage of the season indicates how hard we are pushing to regain our position in the constructors' championship."

Renault driver Fernando Alonso is fully focussed on helping the team earn the runner-up spot, as well as scoring his first victory of the season.

"I think we can do it, certainly," he said. "This is a strong team, with a strong spirit, and we love to be aggressive when we go racing. That is my style, and that is the team's attitude as well. We need to be aggressive between now and the end of the year to overtake BAR again, because it will be a big fight."

Alonso reckons that, in China especially, there is much he can contribute to Renault's cause: "I think the driver's role is even more important at a new circuit than anywhere else.

"Not only do we have to learn the track, but there is more work to do with the engineers, explaining how the circuit is, what the secrets of the track are and how the car is behaving because none of us have any experience or reference points.

"A driver has to be very adaptable at a new circuit, and I believe that is one of my strengths."