Renault Sport Racing will this year return to the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet - the venue due to host the 2018 French Grand Prix - in a partnership with Winfield Racing School to offer driving programmes to motorsport enthusiasts and professional drivers alike.

With the dual aims of making Formula 1 more accessible to recreational drivers and helping professional drivers with their development, the partnership will enable the following Renault cars to be driven at a first-class venue: a V8 Formula 1 car, a Formula Renault 2.0, an R.S.01, a Clio RS and a Megane RS Trophy.

Combining technical expertise with educational supervision and outstanding facilities, Renault and Winfield will enable enthusiasts to realise a previously unattainable dream regardless of their racing skills levels; to drive a Formula 1 car. This unique driving programme will enable the participants to be immersed for the day like a professional driver. A dedicated technical crew of 14 experienced Formula 1 engineers and mechanics from the team will oversee the programme ensuring the reliability, performance and safety of the Formula 1 and R.S.01 cars.

Renault Sport Racing's base will be situated at the heart of the Circuit de Paul Ricard and set within Winfield's infrastructure. Renault Sport Racing will offer this unique driving programme within a setting full of history for Renault.

"The launch of this partnership with Winfield marks an important step in Renault's determination to share its passion for its racing activities," said Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport Racing Managing Director. "Enthusiasts will discover Renault racing cars up to the ultimate level of motorsport, Formula 1 at one of the most beautiful circuits in the world.

"This ties in with our ambition to make the return of the Formula 1 French Grand Prix in 2018 more than just a one-off event," he continued.

"Professional drivers will have the opportunity to drive modern racing cars with tailor-made programmes developed and run by our F1 engineers. The state-of-the-art installation will also give us the opportunity to run events for our team partners."

"Winfield's promise is experience, emotion, engagement and exclusivity," added Frederic Garcia, Winfield Group President. "The driving programme developed with Renault clearly adheres to these promises. Spectating at a Formula 1 Grand Prix is a very nice experience, however to be behind the wheel of a modern F1 car enhances greatly these emotions and offers the most exclusive of experiences.

"Participants will get a unique taste of the complexity of this fabulous sport as they experience the extreme physical and mental demands of the high tech environment of Formula 1. Thanks to Renault and Winfield, anyone participating in this programme will never again watch a Grand Prix in the same way as before."

In a partnership that started in the 1970s, Renault and Winfield Racing School have together discovered a host of Formula 1 and other top level drivers, including Rene Arnoux, Olivier Panis, Eric Bernard and Yvan Muller.

Alain Prost and Damon Hill are former Renault-Winfield School drivers who went on to become Formula One World Champions with Renault engines.

The historic partnership has been rewarded by five Formula 1 World Championship titles, more than 90 wins and over 30 drivers that went on to reach the pinnacle of motorsport.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Thomas1, 13/02/2017 3:15

"Excellent idea and great Implementation by Renault Sport! The facility can be used year around and pay for itself. A good way to revive unused F1 fields in the world for year around use. Renault can add a few other things in addition to their own cars.
A two-seater Formula One race car. This will allow the users (including elderly and women) to feel what F1 racing is in reality. They should be able to tap in ex Formula 1 race drivers for such test driving. I always wonder about the F1 divers health check, the exercise regimen they undergo. This site can popularize the F1 exercise regiment, build strength in the neck, alertness and mental toughness build-up. F1 food and any medicine can also be popularized by this site. The routine daily checkups that the F1 drivers undergo before they get into the race cars on racing days will be useful also. Please make this as a one stop F1 service center for drivers and enthusiasts. Please include Renault Alpine, Talisman models also.
You can also introduce other models like BMW, MB, Ferrari and other models by individual groups and their associated engineers to make it even more valuable to wider-cross section of drivers. Foreign young drivers can have a taste of actual F1 racing by being a second driver in a real racing condition handled by an actual F1 driver! YOu may want to charge reasonable rates so that more ordinary people can enjoy this sport! They take the news back home and it is free ad for Renault road models."

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Renault Sport Racing to establish Paul Ricard base

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