By role
March 15 2004

Spanish driver Fernando Alonso is confident Renault can have a competitive car at Malaysia. Though he sees his real winning chances once the season arrives to the European races thanks to the improvements on the engine expected then Alonso hopes to grab as many points as possible. He is now headed to Sepang for this weekend Malaysian Grand Prix. Alonso has founded memories of last year race:

"The Malaysian Grand Prix is full of fantastic memories for me: I scored my first ever pole and podium for Renault at the circuit last year. I think it is the best circuit we go to in terms of facilities – they really did a great job on the paddock and garages – and the track itself is very challenging. I can’t wait to start running." He said.

However, he is fully aware of the demands of the track on his car:

"Honestly, I think Sepang is perhaps the most difficult circuit of the year, and it is certainly one of the most technical that we go to. When I say technical, I mean that your car needs to be strong in every area: all the corners tend to be high-speed, so you need a perfect car balance and good aerodynamics. The long straights mean good performance on the brakes is an absolute must. The corners open out, so you need to be careful with tyre wear. Everything has to be absolutely spot on to go quickly at Sepang. And of course, it’s fun for the drivers: lots of high speed corners and overtaking opportunities are what we look for from every circuit." He adds.

Alonso is aware of the competitiveness of his package and that expectations are high after scoring apodium in Australia:

"Our main objective has to be to take points. From what we saw there last year, we should have a good car, and the tyres should work even better in the hotter temperatures. Realistically, we believe the car will become very competitive with the performance steps on the engine and chassis when we reach the European season, so the important thing during these first races is to be reliable, finish the races and score points. Finishing in the top five or six is our minimum target." He concludes.