Formula One news

Renault targets BMW

Bob Bell feels that, after a disappointing start to the season, Renault can now start pushing BMW Sauber for the status of third best team.

The technical director admits to feeling disheartened at the start of the season when results failed to meet expectations but a recent upturn in performance and an aggressive development programme planned for the second half of the season makes the former McLaren man believe that the season may not yet be a dead cause.

Bell said: "It has been a mixed bag, to be honest. Initially, we were all disappointed to see that the car was not performing as we had predicted. But since that initial realisation, I have been extremely heartened and motivated by the team's response.

"Everybody in the organisation, from top to bottom, has just got their heads down and grafted to improve the situation. We have already made significant improvements to the car, and that will continue during the second half of the year. I'm very optimistic we can maintain our upward trajectory."

Bell believes that the R27 is almost on a par with the F1.07 - a scenario that he never would have envisaged at the start of the season. With BMW losing key personnel from its aerodynamic department recently, such as Jorg Zander, John Owen and Martin Bester, there are doubts as to whether the Hinwil-based outfit can sustain its dominance over the midfield pack.

Bell declared: "The target is clear: to continue closing the gap to BMW on track, and to begin doing so in the championship. If you look back to the opening races of the year, it was as if we were in a different race to them.

"Now, we are regularly qualifying in the top ten, and according to the type of circuit, racing with our direct rivals. Giancarlo and Heikki are both pushing very hard and getting the maximum from the car. They now need a more performance to fight on equal terms with BMW.

"That is what we are focused on providing them throughout the second half of the year, beginning this weekend at the Nürburgring."

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