Williams to revive Renault engine partnership
Williams are to switch from Cosworth to Renault power for the 2012 and 2013 seasons it was announced on Monday, reviving one of Formula One racing’s most famous partnerships. Between 1989 and 1997, Williams and Renault won four drivers’ and five constructors’ titles together.
The new, long-term chassis-engine agreement includes other business and marketing opportunities, with a view to continuing after the introduction of the new, energy efficient, turbocharged V6 engines to Formula One in 2014.“We are delighted and excited by our new partnership with Renault,” commented team principal Frank Williams. “This reunites the F1 team with a leading car manufacturer and complements our new relationship with Jaguar. At the same time, we are grateful to Cosworth: they have been a fair and reliable partner both on and off the track for the past two years and we look forward to working with them across our business in the future.
“Our previous relationship with Renault was one of the most successful in Williams’ history but we will not allow ourselves to dwell too much on the past. We must look to the future and continue to re-build our on-track reputation, which I am hopeful that today’s announcement will help us to do.”
Williams’ previous Renault alliance produced 63 race wins as well as some of the most evocative images of the 1990s, including Nigel Mansell’s British Grand Prix win in 1992, Alain Prost’s fourth world title and the classic duels between Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher.
The new partnership means that from 2012, Renault will be supplying engines to four of the grids 12 teams - Williams, Red Bull, Team Lotus and Renault.
“Renault remains in Formula One to achieve success in a cost efficient way and the partnership with Williams has great potential to add to the results we have notched up over recent years with our other partner teams,” commented Renault Sport F1 president, Bernard Rey. “Williams has recently taken several important steps, both commercially and technically, to update its operations and we feel that this partnership is another important step in its rigorous plan. It reiterates how determined the team is to achieve results, which matches perfectly with our own objectives.
“From 2012 onwards the fact that we will have four partners puts us ahead of other engine manufacturers in terms of market share, but off track it will also enable us to further use Formula One as a marketing platform for our parent company, Renault, to try to bring a bit of this association to our fans and our customers worldwide.
“Of course there’s also a great pride in reviving the Williams-Renault name. Together, we produced racing cars that are recognised for their technical innovation and it is still Renault’s most successful period in F1 to date. It’s a hugely exciting opportunity for both Renault and Williams.”Williams, who have not won a Grand Prix since 2004, have experienced a difficult start to their 2011 campaign. After eight rounds they lie ninth in the constructors’ table with four points.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)
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