The end of the race season may have given some hard-worked members of Renault's race team an opportunity to take a well-earned break, but the test team will soon be back to work.

The team will return to the track in Barcelona from 30 November to 2 December; notably, the session will feature a first taste of F1 for Robert Kubica, 2005 World Series by Renault champion, and the 2004 Renault V6 winner Giorgio Mondini.

With the track debut of the RS26 V8 planned for January 2006, the team will run with a 'restricted' V10 to simulate predicted power levels for next year. Why? To ensure the best possible start in the tyre development programme for next year that Franck Montagny will be working on with technical partner Michelin.

As for the race drivers, they will run for just one day each before Christmas to acclimatise to the reduce power levels, before starting intensive testing with the R26 in the New Year. ""Everybody is very keen to get back on track," explained Chassis Technical Director Bob Bell. "We want to pick up and carry on exactly where we left off on Sunday evening in Shanghai."

Over the course of nine test days before Christmas - at Barcelona and Jerez - Franck Montagny will be on duty for all nine days, Heikki Kovalainen (4), Giancarlo Fisichella (1), Fernando Alonso (1), Giorgio Mondini (1), Robert Kubica (1) and Jose Maria Lopez (1).