A Day with the Renault F1 Drivers
Shah Alam, 15 March 2006 – It was a hot and blistering day at the Shah Alam Stadium, but the hot temperature and high humidity were not the only conditions that put many of the Malaysian media into a sweat. It was a day with the Renault F1 driver, Giancarlo Fisichella, 35, and test driver Heikki Kovalainen that made the adrenaline flow and blood pressures go up.
The two drivers had a Q & A session with the press, and when asked about his problems with his race car in Bahrain, Fischella said, “Bahrain is finished! I just want to look forward to a better time for the next race.” While Alonso went on to win the F1 championship, Fisichella was plagued with problems the whole of last year after his win in the opening round Australian GP. I feel quite sorry for him, really, and hope that the last of the dark cloud hanging over him has finally passed, and that hw will have better luck, starting with our home GP.
Using the Limited Edition Renault Megane F1 car, both Giancarlo and Heikki thrilled the media members by giving each and every one ‘taxi rides’ around the car park at the Shah Alam Stadium. Sadly missing was Alonso, but apparently he was engaged somewhere else.
The stint was part of a full day programme organised by Renault Asia Pacific and the local distributors of the Renault brand, TC Eurocars Sdn Bhd. Earlier in the day, the media were treated to a presentation on Renault’s commitment to road safety, showcasing Renault’s fifty years of progress in the field of vehicle safety technologies. Renault is the only carmaker to offer ‘best-in-class’ safety across its whole range, from the Clio III to Scenic II –with eight vehicles achieving maximum five-star ratings in the Euro NCAP crash tests. For Renault, the objectives of safety apply across all vehicle occupants, adults and children. In all seats, Renault goes further than the criteria measured by Euro NCAP, fitting its rear seats with special systems to achieve the best possible passenger protection.
Renault’s safety R & D work is based on four fronts, that of prevention, the anticipation of risks to help save lives, correction, dealing with emergency situations to avoid accidents, protection, the ensuring of maximum protection for al the car’s occupants, and awareness, the quest to change driving habits ensure that drivers know of their responsibilities to themselves and to their passengers.
As an added bonus, the media were privileged to preview the Clio III, the Megane F1 Limited Edition, and the Kangoo Nevo, a special edition built by TC Eurocars.
