The ING Renault F1 Team nailed its new colours to the mast with the launch of the all-new R27 F1 car and a striking visual identity.

The ING Renault F1 Team signalled its arrival in Formula 1 in style, with a spectacular media presentation in front of 600 VIPs and media in Amsterdam. Winners of consecutive world championships in 2005 and 2006, the team proudly unveiled new title partner ING and the striking new livery that will adorn the R27 cars throughout the 2007 season and beyond.

Renault F1 Team President Alain Dassas spoke of "exciting challenges" for the coming season, which will see the team's championship campaign spearheaded by Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, in his third season with the team, and Finnish rookie Heikki Kovalainen.

"Double championship success in 2005 and 2006 has earned Renault its status as a major force in Formula 1, " asserted Dassas. "Our Formula 1 championship success is a benchmark of excellence that we aim to meet in every area of our operations. The Renault F1 Team's performance culture reflects the ambitious objectives of our company-wide plan, Renault Commitment 2009. Consecutive double championships are concrete proof that Renault can win in a demanding environment where success demands quality, technical excellence and reliability.

"We must now live up to that reputation. But on track, our challenge will remain the same: we will be asking our technical teams and drivers to make Renault a championship contender in 2007."

The ING Renault F1 Team's 2007 challenger has been christened R27. The new car represents an evolution of the design philosophy that won world championship success in 2005 and 2006.The aerodynamic packaging represents a further step forward over its predecessor in terms of overall efficiency, and innovative solutions have been employed in a number of areas to achieve improved performance under stable technical regulations. The car also features a new ‘instantaneous gearchange' seven-speed gearbox, and has been designed with maximum set-up flexibility in order that its dynamic characteristics can be tuned to suit the Bridgestone Potenza tyres that will be used by every team in 2007.

"I am very proud of the team's work on R27, " commented Technical Director Bob Bell. "We have enjoyed two seasons of remarkable success, but there is no complacency at all at Renault. Finding performance under stable regulations always obeys the law of diminishing returns, but our technical group has worked hard to innovate and ensure that the new car represents a genuine step forward over its predecessor in every area."

The new car will be powered by the 2.4L V8 RS27 engine, which has been designed to the requirements of the ‘engine homologation' regulations which will be in force for 2007 and beyond. The engine is based on the RS26 V8 engine that competed in the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix last season, and has been re-tuned in line with modifications permitted by the regulations for the new maximum rev limit of 19, 000 rpm that will be imposed on all competitors.

"We are very much looking forward to the new challenge, which is part of Renault's racing tradition, " explained the team's Head of Engine Track Operations Denis Chevrier. "We will be looking to derive maximum benefit from every kilometre completed by a Renault engine, to improve the performance and reliability of all four Renault engines on track".

For Giancarlo Fisichella, 2007 will be his third year with the team – and the opportunity to deliver on the promise glimpsed during the previous two seasons. Having been an integral part of the team's championship successes in 2005 and 2006, the Italian will aim to add race-winning consistency to his natural speed in order to become a regular contender at the front of the field. "The spirit of the team is strong after two fantastic seasons, and we are feeling optimistic, " explained the Italian. "The has shown its confidence in me for the new season, and I am determined to repay that in the best way possible, out on track."

Alongside Fisichella will be new team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, one of the brightest young talents in Formula 1. The Finn has completed over 30, 000 km in testing during recent seasons, and has proved his racing credentials as a member of the Renault Driver Development programme since 2002. The team has now offered him the rare opportunity to make his Formula 1 debut in a championship-winning team.

"I am very excited about the new season, " commented the Finn. "But I know that so far, I have achieved nothing at all. I pushed myself very hard last year in testing, to show the team that I was capable of doing the job. They had faith in me, and now it is my turn to deliver on that promise. Overall, I am expecting 2007 to be a fantastic year for me. I am in the best possible place to start my career, and my focus is on preparing as thoroughly as possible for the first race – and the sixteen to come after that."

"This is no year of transition for the ING Renault F1 Team, " emphasised Managing Director Flavio Briatore. "We have always said that the team is what matters, and that success comes from the team spirit that unites us. 2007 is a fantastic opportunity to prove exactly that. There are some big changes for this season, not just at Renault but throughout the grid. We believe in our choices, and we are confident that they will help us achieve more success in 2007."

Article © 2007 Graham Benge