Renault to race with British license in 2011

Renault will race in formula one this year with a British license.

It means that if Robert Kubica or Vitaly Petrov win a race, it will be God Save The Queen rather than La Marseillaise that is played on the podium.

Boulogne-Billancourt headquartered Renault SA’s ownership of the Oxfordshire based team was one of France’s last remaining links to F1.

But the team, previously operating under a French racing license, is now co-owned by Luxembourg investment firm Genii Capital and the Malaysian-owned British sports car marque Group Lotus.

There is also no French grand prix or active race driver in F1.

“Lotus is an English manufacturer,” Renault team boss Eric Boullier explained at the Autosport International show in Birmingham, referring to the outfit’s new title sponsor and partner.

He insisted that the change of identity for Lotus Renault GP is “important for everybody inside the team”

“We are rebranding everything inside the company now,” added Frenchman Boullier.

Renault SA’s official involvement in F1 this year will be limited to engine supply, with Renault Sport F1 providing V8s to customers Lotus Renault GP, Team Lotus and Red Bull.

© RIF | GMM