Trulli: Keeping Second Place No Easy Task

Jarno Trulli is determined to help Renault fight for the runners-up spot in the World Championship this season ­ but is refusing to set his sights on overhauling Ferrari just yet.

Italian Trulli and his Spanish teammate Fernando Alonso, who currently have 11 Championship points each, have put the Anglo-French team ahead of Williams and BAR-Honda in the chasing pack. But Trulli has warned that keeping second place will not be easy.

"Williams and BAR are strong and I'm sure McLaren will recover from the first three races," said the Italian today at Imola. "We know we have quite a lot of work to do to keep this position for the end of the Championship.

"There is a long way to go - 15 races still to go - but we have proved we've got a good package. It is also very clear that Ferrari have got a strong team and a strong car. It is not going to be easy to catch Ferrari, but every weekend we try to stop their domination.

"They are leading the Championship with quite a big gap, but we're second and this is the most important thing for us."

Trulli claims Renault has a bad history at Imola as they have failed to finish higher than fifth on the Italian circuit since their full return to the sport in 2002. Trulli, whose best result at Imola was fifth for Jordan in 2001, knows that he must help turn that form around this weekend if his team are to stay in touch with all-conquering Ferrari.

"This race has always been our black race, one where we have never really performed well," said Trulli. "Our car doesn't really suit the circuit, but we're more confident this year. We've got a new engine development and some new bits on the aerodynamic side. We're confident we can turn this black weekend around."