PARIS, FRANCE, DECEMBER 17, 2006 – Jonathan Cochet, driver for Renault F1’s popular F1 Roadshow program, capped off an exciting season of exhibition driving with a special appearance at the Race of Champions event in the Stade de France today in Paris, France. Having driven Fernando Alonso’s 2005 World Championship winning Renault R25 at numerous circuits throughout Europe during selected 2006 World Series Renault weekends, the tight ROC circuit, which was built over what is normally a football field, proved challenging in demonstrating the true performance potential of such a thoroughbred racing car. However, Cochet was highly enthusiastic about the performance anyway despite rainy weather, which made the stadium circuit even more challenging to negotiate.
“The circuit under normal conditions is slippery ” said Cochet, “also the rain made this condition even worse. But the event was really, really cool anyway! There were so many people there from the Renault F1 engine factory in Viry-Châtillon cheering. Many of them never actually get to see the car run during the season, so it was a real privilege to demonstrate to them the result of all their hard work, even if the circuit and conditions didn’t really allow me to push too hard. ”
In addition to the R25 demonstration, Cochet gave numerous rides to Renault employees and media members on Friday in a race-prepared Renault Sport Mégane Trophy car. The vehicle had a special seat added to accommodate the fortunate passengers who got to experience both the high performance of the car and the new circuit for themselves for three high-speed laps with Cochet personally behind the wheel.
Renault F1 has requested Cochet’s services again for 2007 and he is eager to extend his role as driver for the Renault F1 Roadshow. As he did this year he will once again pilot the previous season’s World Championship winning car, only this time the car will be the Renault R26, which was driven to the 2006 Formula 1 title by Fernando Alonso. Cochet says, “I want to thank everyone at Renault F1 and the F1 Roadshow crew for providing me the honor of driving the world’s fastest race car in front of so many enthusiastic fans in 2006. I am very much looking forward to doing this again in 2007. I can’t wait to compare the R25 to the R26 to feel the difference between the two.”
