Jerez: Renault has chosen its drivers

The Jerez paddock is filling up because, even if it was an open secret, Renault F1 Team has just confirmed the two drivers who will take part in the Jerez tests. Bertrand Baguette, winner of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series championship, Lucas di Grassi, reserve driver of the Franco-British team, as well as the Chinese Ho-Pin Tung will be in Spain to compete in these tests.

« Today, testing is regulated but this three-day test is the ideal opportunity for us to evaluate young drivers such as Bertrand, Ho-Pin and Lucas., attests Bob Bell, team principal of Renault F1 Team. They have already demonstrated their talent and we can't wait to see what they can do behind the wheel of the R29. These three days will complete our testing program for 2009. »

Bertrand Baguette, 23, after three seasons in Formula Renault 3.5 Series, won the title this season, attracting a large wave of sympathy in Belgium, where he was the first driver to win an international title since Jacky Ickx.

Lucas di Grassi, a 25-year-old Brazilian, has competed in four consecutive seasons in the GP2 Series, finishing on the podium for the last three seasons. Reserve driver within the Renault F1 Team after the tenure of Romain Grosjean, di Grassi almost replaced the ailing Franco-Swiss during the Singapore Grand Prix.

Ho-Pin Tung, Formula BMW Asia champion in 2003, arrived in Europe the following season. The Chinese notably played several seasons of F3 German, winning the title in 2006. We could then see him in A1GP, GP2 Series and, this season, in Superleague Formula, a discipline in which he won a victory at the last meeting, in Jarama, in Spain.