The final livery:
Renault launches R27 with long-term commitment to F1The ING Renault F1 Team launched its new Formula 1 contender in Amsterdam with an all-new livery, an exciting new driver and a commitment to stay in the sport in the long term.
Winners of the last two World Championships, the team is hoping that the loss of Fernando Alonso can be overcome with Giancarlo Fisichella and Finnish rookie Heikki Kovalainen.
"The commitment of Renault to F1 is long-term," said Renault F1 chairman Alain Dassas. "It is a good show. It is a good team and brings brand value and brand image to Renault."
The team has major new sponsorship from Dutch financial firm ING.
"Our Formula 1 programme is a global sponsorship initiative which will help us to enhance the awareness of one unified ING brand worldwide," explains Michel Tilmant, the chairman of ING. "Formula 1 is currently the best platform for a global sponsorship programme, as it has the potential to reach a broad customer base. We chose Renault for its track record as a high-performing team. We are convinced that teaming up with the Renault F1 Team fosters our objectives of encouraging teamwork, performance culture and permanent progress. I am confident that the ING Renault F1 Team will remain highly competitive in the
coming years."
The ING branding is massive, although interestingly the team has retained the rear wing and the bargeboards for Renault, either to increase the brand awareness or because other sponsors could not be found.
The new R27 has been testing in Spain and already shown well. It is an evolution of the successful R26.
"I am very proud of the team's work on R27," says 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."
