Tech boss hails 'first real Renault'

Speaking at the track launch of its new challenger at Paul Ricard, Gascoyne said: "This is the first real Renault, produced in the way we want to produce our cars. I am proud of what we've achieved on the aerodynamic side. It is the most development and the most intense time we have spent on a new car. We have been working the windtunnel 24 hours a day, every day of the week."

Renault's engine boss Jean-Jacques His says Gascoyne's efforts on the chassis side at Enstone in Britain have been matched by his team at Viry-Chatillon in France.

"We have been preparing this for a long time," said His. "The changes to the rules have added to the challenge. We are very confident and there is a plan in place to develop the engine.

"This is a new solution based on what we've seen before. The engine is more rigid and more refined. We have worked on the way it fits to the chassis much better and it suits the car better than last year."