Alonso and Piquet Will Be Renault's Drivers in 2008

The two-times Formula 1 World Champion, theteam-mate, the British Lewis Hamilton.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso and the BrazilianAlonso, a two-time world champion (2005 and
Nelsinho Piquet will be the two official Renault2006) returns to the team with which he lived his
drivers for the 2008 season; replacing the ItalianFormula One best seasons. He makes his final
Giancarlo Fisichella and the Finnish Heikkidecision once the FIA decided not to sanction
Kovalainen; this has already been announced toRenault due to a non-clear espionage case
the AFP in Spain. Renault's spokesman did notinvolving the McLaren team.
refer to the contracts duration or gave anyAlonso did not give an extend declaration about
details that could compromise them.the issue in question. "I am one of the 22
In an interview with the French motor-racingprivileged ones that can drive a single-seater each
official web page, Alonso stated ''I'm very happyyear and I'm still even more fortunate to be able
by signing with Renault. Everyone knows is ato abandon a great team and enter another one.
great team and what they have achieved in theMany drivers have never been able to run in the
Formula One. In the 2005 and 2006 seasons thehighest category''.
team won the world championship and I would likeAlonso will drive next to Nelsinho Piquet, son of
to be part of that success''.the three-time World Champion Nélson
For a long time now, it has been announced onPiquet (1981, 1983, 1987), who was Renault's
the Spaniard's web page his return to Renaulttester pilot last season. Renault's test driver
assuring his comeback ''to his origins''.position will be occupied by the French driver
Alonso affirmed Renault is a team ''that knowsRomain Grosjean, Formula 3 Euroseries 2007
what it takes to win.'' He also stated that ''theChampion.
decision to elect a team did not take more thanPiquet made a written statement on his web
one week; my people as well as myself knowpage ''A fantastic opportunity to debut in Formula
what we wanted''.1 was offered to me by one of the best
A few weeks ago, Alonso, 26-year-old abandonedmotor-racing teams as well as next to one of the
the McLaren-Mercedes team after one seasonbest drivers. It is something for which I have
marked by the constant troubles with the headworked a lot and I'm proud that my hard work
leaders, besides the Ferrari's espionage case andhas been noticed allowing me to achieve this
the worst of all the very obvious rivalry with hisposition''.