Renault drivers ready for results

Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso are ready and eager to prove their worth and get results for Renault in 2003. The team held the second part of its launch at the Paul Ricard circuit in France today, after the debut of the R23 in Lucerne on Monday. Trulli is hoping this season will give him the chance to demonstrate his abilities and use his experience to the full.

"The Renault adventure has arrived at exactly the right time," he said. "It will allow me to demonstrate what I am capable of. What's more, the new regulations for 2003 will be an extra challenge. They put more emphasis on the driver, and that will mean I can put my experience to good use."

Spaniard Alonso is also ready to show that Renault's faith in him is not misplaced. The twenty-two year old spent 2002 as the team's official test driver and wants to put his learning into practice: "I certainly want to prove that I deserve my place," he commented. "After a season working in the background, I have completely adapted to the team and am now just waiting for Melbourne."

Trulli had an unsettled year with Renault in 2002, plagued by unreliability but he began to shake off his reputation as a good qualifier but a poor racer. Alonso impressed many in his debut season with Minardi in 2001 and Renault boss, and Alonso's manager, Flavio Briatore has great hopes for his young prot?g?.

The drivers have spent time over the winter at Briatore's home in Kenya, working on a fitness programme and cementing relationships within the team. Briatore is happy with the way the two get on, saying it's the strongest driver pairing Renault has had.

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