Renault gunning for 2005 title

Renault will be a contender for the title in 2005 according to team boss Flavio Briatore, after achieving its goals in the last two years. In 2004 Renault hung on to second place in the constructors' standings most of the year but was beaten down to third by BAR in the latter half of the season. It was disappointing to drop a place but the team still reached its target.

Flavio Briatore.

Photo by LAT Photographic.

"Our goal was to finish in the top-three," Briatore told Gazzetta dello Sport about this year. "With our new engine structure, our priority was finishing races rather than winning. BAR did a better job than us and deserved their runner-up position, even though we held second place for much of the season."

Renault's best result in 2004 was Jarno Trulli's victory in Monaco, the only win for the team this year. Fernando Alonso's second place in France was the next best but despite a handful of third places, eventually Renault couldn't withstand BAR's improved competitiveness.

Now the goal for Renault is the championship: "We'll be competitive in every race. We'll contend for the title," Briatore stated, in regard to 2005. "We're taking it one step at a time: two years ago, our target was becoming one of the big four teams. This season, we wanted a top three. Next year…"

Alonso will be partnered by Giancarlo Fisichella next season, who previously raced for the team when it was Benetton. Renault will launch its 2005 challenger, the R25, in Monaco on February 1st.