Renault reveal championship ambitions

Renault trumpeted their return to Formula One as a constructor today by unveiling the car to take their challenge to front-runners…

Renault trumpeted their return to Formula One as a constructor today by unveiling the car to take their challenge to front-runners Ferrari.

"I will be very disappointed if the team doesn't finish among the top four in 2002," said Renault motorsport boss Patrick Faure.

"But, in any case, our aim is to be as close as possible to the top teams, with the objective of winning races regularly in 2003 and challenging for the title the following year."

"Our aim is relatively modest," he added, before the yellow and blue car was revealed. "We have to be ambitious but not arrogant."

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"Renault is back in Formula One," declared the launch compere at the French carmaker's Guyancourt technocentre outside Paris, standing in front of a big screen showing the simple statement "100 percent Renault".

Renault bought the Benetton team in 2000 and will be appearing under their own name for the first time since 1985, matching world champions Ferrari as a constructor of both engine and chassis.

Since then, they have concentrated on building engines, proving world-beaters with Williams and Benetton before withdrawing in 1997.

The carmaker won the first ever grand prix in 1906 and took six successive constructors' titles between 1992 and 1997 as engine providers but have never won the championship with their own car.