F1 Team Driver Training Programme news

FIRST YEAR SUCCESS FOR RENAULT F1 TEAM DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAMME

Renault Sport drivers at all levels have praised the introduction of the Renault F1 Team Driver Training Programme as the scheme's inaugural year drew to a close with a special one-off event.

Launched at the start of the 2010 season, the Driver Fitness Programme was created by the Renault F1 Team Human Performance Centre exclusively for drivers of Renault Sport-promoted series. The pioneering new scheme - which uses leading trainers to help drivers develop their physical and psychological conditioning - remains the only one of its kind to offer budding racers a direct link to the Renault F1 Team.

Based at the Renault F1 Team headquarters in Enstone, Oxfordshire, places were quickly snapped up by drivers and now boasts members from the Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship, the ELF Renault Clio Cup with Michelin, the Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship and the Formula Renault 3.5 Series.

To mark the occasion, coaches from the Renault F1 Team held a special training day which began with a tour of the Renault F1 Team factory followed by a full day's training including mountain biking, swimming and rock climbing.

Formula Renault 3.5 race-winner Jon Lancaster and Formula Renault UK front-runners Robert Foster-Jones (Southern on Sea) and Ollie Millroy (Claygate) were among those who attended the event.

Foster-Jones, who is on course for a top 10 finish in his debut season, said: "The special training day was excellent and allowed us to do a range of activities that you couldn't do in a gym such as rock climbing. The overall programme has been a big help to me this year and the coaches are now more like friends than trainers. It also doesn't do any harm to be showing your face regularly at the Renault F1 Team headquarters."

Renault Sport UK Championship Promoter Simon North added: "We're delighted with the response we've received from drivers this year who are fully aware that to reach the top in motorsport requires them to be highly tuned athletes, not just quick on the track. Our training programme is specially designed to help them cope with the physical and mental pressures of the sport as well as give them a direct link to Formula One.

"We're already planning next year's programme and will be hosting an open day on 1st November at the Renault F1 Team headquarters to showcase the scheme to prospective drivers who are eager to give themselves a head start like Rob, Ollie, Jon and many others have done."

-source: renault sport uk