Grosjean bidding for remaining Renault seat
Grosjean failed to impress in 2009 but is hoping Renault will honour their long relationship
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By Alistair Potter. |  |
Monday, 21, Dec 2009 12:50
By Adam Leveridge
Romain Grosjean is bidding for the second seat at Renault alongside Robert Kubica, now the outfit's future has been secured by an outside investor.
French firm Genii Capital, which is owned by Luxembourg businessman Gerard Lopez, recently bought a majority share of the Renault formula one team, outbidding Prodrive owner David Richards.
Grosjean has been with the French manufacturer as a reserve and test driver since 2006 and was called up for duty towards the end of the 2009 season, when Nelson Piquet was sacked after failing to hit a performance clause in his contract.
But the Frenchman failed to impress in the seven races he competed in and his contract was not extended.
Grosjean, however, believes he measured up well to double-world champion Fernando Alonso and he hopes his long relationship with Renault will help convince the team to give him another shot.
"Now we know the new Renault owner and we know that the brand will continue in Grand Prix racing - I trust they won't let me down after all the work we've done together since 2006," Grosjean told French newspaper L'Equipe.
"I had a great experience competing in seven Grands Prix as team-mate to Fernando Alonso last season.
"We didn't take victory but, for me, Fernando was the best driver of the year; I'm not ashamed of my performance against him and it gives me great confidence for the future."