Renault Driver Development

RyanSharpFan · 27 Oct 2003, 15:17 (Ref:764640)

Since watts and salignon have been dropped who do you think reanult will take on board now?

JR Ewing · 27 Oct 2003, 15:29 (Ref:764651)

will they take anyone on?

RyanSharpFan · 27 Oct 2003, 15:33 (Ref:764661)

they should, i think it will have to be a brit, just to keep people interested in RDD

Russfeld · 27 Oct 2003, 16:40 (Ref:764719)

what 'people' is there to keep interested?

RyanSharpFan · 27 Oct 2003, 16:45 (Ref:764721)

Motorsport enthusiasts

Mike.ca · 27 Oct 2003, 16:58 (Ref:764731)

&nbsp I would think that Andrew Ranger would be the obvious choice. He dominated Renault's Fran-Am series this year, even though he's only 16 and in his first year out of karts. If that doesn't show promise, I don't know what does.

Quote:

Originally posted by RyanSharpFan
they should, i think it will have to be a brit, just to keep people interested in RDD

&nbsp You mean to keep Brits interested? As I understand it, RDD is an international program.

JR Ewing · 27 Oct 2003, 17:01 (Ref:764738)

Quote:

Originally posted by RyanSharpFan
they should, i think it will have to be a brit, just to keep people interested in RDD

Can you explain other than because you want it to be Ryan Sharp?

RyanSharpFan · 27 Oct 2003, 17:04 (Ref:764740)

RDD is international but, as britain is (suposedly) the hub of international motorsport it makes sense to have a brit in it (there is also a good mix of international drivers already)

JR Ewing · 27 Oct 2003, 17:09 (Ref:764747)

I thought it was being canned tho?

Russfeld · 27 Oct 2003, 17:13 (Ref:764755)

er do you understand the point of RDD? Its to find the best drivers for the F1 team, where they come from is secondary.

RyanSharpFan · 27 Oct 2003, 17:39 (Ref:764795)

It may be secondary, but any company will want to promote its image worldwide, its the nature of business

Russfeld · 27 Oct 2003, 17:41 (Ref:764798)

Then why is it important to have a Brit if they're concenred about worldwide image?

Look, Ryan did a hell of a job and its great that he has supporters; but please sir, put it back in your trousers

RyanSharpFan · 27 Oct 2003, 17:44 (Ref:764800)

Fair enough, it was nice arguing with you!lol

Mathias · 28 Oct 2003, 12:50 (Ref:765670)

Short answer: no-one. I think Renault are abandoning the programme - let's face it these programmes are sh*te! You pick a driver in a junior formula who you think's doing quite well, pump loads of money into them, and then someone else comes along who's ten times better when the moment comes to choose an F1 driver.

I mean look at McLaren's experience with Nick Heidfeld...

And I'm afraid I really can't fathom any other logical explanation for Renault dumping Danny!

DSM · 28 Oct 2003, 13:34 (Ref:765714)

RUSSFELD:'er do you understand the point of RDD? Its to find the best drivers for the F1 team, where they come from is secondary.'

How many drivers who've been on the RDD have ended up driving in the Renault (or connected to Renault)F1 team?

F3lollipops · 28 Oct 2003, 13:35 (Ref:765715)

I can think of a whole load of drivers who deserve to have cash poured into their careers, but we all know that talent rarely counts and they'll just give it to someone who is willing to play 'corporate man'

And I think that's why they've dumped Danny - he has far too much of his own personality for them!

Mathias · 28 Oct 2003, 13:44 (Ref:765727)

DSM - my point exactly, but better made.

By the way, the answer is, apparently, Will Davison, according to our sexy friends at british-f3.com

DSM · 28 Oct 2003, 13:46 (Ref:765731)

OK. so that's a total of none then?

JR Ewing · 28 Oct 2003, 13:48 (Ref:765735)

Quote:

Originally posted by DSM
OK. so that's a total of none then?

Montagny?

Isn't Kovaleinen still in there?

Russfeld · 28 Oct 2003, 14:18 (Ref:765757)

Quote:

Originally posted by DSM
How many drivers who've been on the RDD have ended up driving in the Renault (or connected to Renault)F1 team?

Given this is the second year of the program and one of them is now promoted to test driver, and he was the only one to actually have results...

hys911 · 28 Oct 2003, 16:12 (Ref:765849)

Apart from these drivers, how about any other choice? do you think RDD will pick any other nationality like Chinese , Japanese or USA drivers into their consideration?

alonso11 · 28 Oct 2003, 16:35 (Ref:765869)

Quote:

How many drivers who've been on the RDD have ended up driving in the Renault (or connected to Renault)F1 team?

I don't have to mention Motagny, José Mar�*a López will definitely test the RenaultF1 car before the end of this year and in V6 he was very-very impressive too.Well especially his pace, he still can improve on the racing part but he is a true champion of V6.Adrián Vallés is also quite likely to sample the ReanultF1 power this year, he is the youngest and probably the quickest RDD driver, true that now he has to fight really hard for the SWS Light title since a couple of bad races removed him from the leading position of the point standings.

Quote:

I mean look at McLaren's experience with Nick Heidfeld...

Why? From Mclaren point of view what is the problem with the Heidfeld-experience? Unlike most of the RDD guys Heidfeld was always dazzlingly fast and prominently racing in whichever formula they put him.German and European champion of Formula Ford 1800cc and 2000cc, German and International (Monaco) champion of Formula 3, International champion of Formula3000 where he became vice-champion in his rookie year which fairly outstanding in F3000 -I can only think of JPM who was so much on the pace as an F3000-rookie- (and perhaps the 4th place of Zonta and Alonso).In F1 he immediately matched the pace of the most experienced driver Alesi, then outqualified and outraced now Mclaren's number one Kimi, then outqualified and outraced now Ferrari's bigest hope Felipe.So basically what's your problem with him? You base your opinion on his -indeed not too fascinating- performance in 2003 and ignore the previous 9 seasons? He was just damn unlucky with his car and pit- strategies, but just for the record he still finished or DNFed 11 (!) races ahead of HHF and outqualified HHF 9 to 7.In my opinion Nick is a very bad example for why a young-driver development program is bad from an F1 team point of view.
Why Mclaren picked Kimi instead of him is another story but Nick did what he could his preF1 CV only compares to JPM's one and he doesn't really have to be ashamed of his F1 career so far.

The Zuschauer · 29 Oct 2003, 10:28 (Ref:766718)

I voted for JP de Oliveira, but he's really done enough development driving in Formula 3...

The Davison thing sounds possible, although there's no mention of other drivers during the test... Also, maybe his style suited the setup on the car. I'd certainly tip him as a big possibility for next year.

Also, as mentioned by somebody else, the Renault Driver Development program is quite international, and there's no reason to be giving the drive to a Brit. Really, they'd favour a Frenchman over a Brit.

RyanSharpFan · 29 Oct 2003, 10:51 (Ref:766742)

davidson would be good to have, but why has jp de olivera been so good in f3 this year?

F3lollipops · 29 Oct 2003, 11:13 (Ref:766775)

Because he won the German series! And he dragged the Lola-Dome round Donington a bloody sight quicker than Robbie Kerr ever made it go...

View Poll Results: Who will join RDD?
Ryan Sharp	3	12.50%
João Paulo de Oliveira	6	25.00%
G. van der Garde	2	8.33%
Other	13	54.17%
Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

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