Official: Renault sign Doornbos

[Giuseppe F1]

Though hes not taking Junior's seat, just yet...

...But surely this will add to the 'Piquet Out Soon' rumours




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http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080526193348.shtml

Doornbos inks F1 deal to drive for Renault
Demonstration duties for the team
26/05/08 19:33

Former Grand Prix driver Robert Doornbos has concluded a deal to appear in the cockpit of Renault's Formula One cars in 2008, according to reports.

The 26-year-old Dutchman, who raced 11 times for Minardi and Red Bull until late in 2006, reportedly penned the agreement with the French squad's main sponsor ING - a Dutch bank - to perform demonstration driving duties, the Dutch publication Formule 1 Race Report said on Monday.

Doornbos dropped out of the American open wheeler scene for 2008 following the merger of the Champ Car and IRL series.

He has since signed to represent AC Milan in the forthcoming football-meets-motor racing Superleague Formula.

Doornbos' very next high-speed outing, however, could be a one-day Renault test at the Silverstone circuit on Friday, motorsport-total.com claims.


The German portal said Doornbos' shakedown is so he can adapt to the car ahead of his demonstration outings, including in Rotterdam and Moscow.

His management, meanwhile, denied that a connection can be made between Doornbos' Renault commitment and the increasing pressure on the team's struggling race driver Nelson Piquet.

© CAPSIS International
Source: GMM

[gloomyDAY]

His management, meanwhile, denied that a connection can be made between Doornbos' Renault commitment and the increasing pressure on the team's struggling race driver Nelson Piquet.Is it opposite day today?

[K-Pu]

Uh-oh... As we would say here in Spain, Piquet is seeing the wolf´s ears. Or uncle Frank is coming with the sales XD.

[Hawkmoon]

I wonder if Renault are having trouble getting their rookies up to speed. Last year it took Kovalainen three-quarters of the season to get up to speed and the same thing is happening with Piquet.

I say give the kid a chance. Kovalainen has proven to be quick, though very unlucky and I think Renault made a mistake letting him go. I'm sure they don't want to make the same mistake twice.

[CNR]

this may be a case of put robert in for the drive or lose our sponsorship



penned the agreement with the French squad's main sponsor ING

[cy bais]

i thought doornbos is driving in the super league racing formula :(

[ArrowsFA1]

I wonder if Renault are having trouble getting their rookies up to speed.
I'm not so sure it's Renault & their rookies. Briatore has history when it comes to filling the second seat in his Benetton/Renault team and Piquet would seem to be the latest in a long line of drivers who have suffered under his management.