Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Briatore urges Renault to keep pushing

Briatore urges Renault to keep pushing

Renault boss Flavio Briatore has urged his team not to ease off their efforts despite a strong end to the season for the French car manufacturer.

Progress made by the Enstone-based team helped Fernando Alonso secure victories in Singapore and Japan, and his points-scoring finish in China last weekend has helped Renault clinch fourth place in the constructors' championship.

But despite being satisfied with the work Renault have done, Briatore is aware that improvements must continue if the team are to rejoin the fight for the world championship in 2009.

"I think what we need to do now is not lose the momentum and make sure we have the same performance in the same direction for next year's car," Briatore told autosport.com.

Renault started the season simply fighting for points but a range of improvements have turned the R28 into a race winner. And, with the team securing the best-of-the-rest tag behind Ferrari, McLaren and BMW Sauber this season, Briatore is happy with what his team have delivered.

"Yes, I am very happy," he said. "I think it was a good improvement and a good performance from the team in the last six or seven races. I believe after the French Grand Prix we are there all the time, and Fernando Alonso has scored more points than anyone other than Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa.

"I am very happy for the performance of the team, we have two wins, we have a second place with (Nelson) Piquet - I think in this moment I believe that we are the third team because we are doing a little bit better than BMW."



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