F1Weekly podcast # 701
CLARK AND NASIR GO OVER THE RESULTS OF THE GRAND PRIX IN BAHRAIN, WE HAVE A TERRIFIC MOTORSPORTS MONDIAL AND 50 WORDS FROM THE F1W FORUM.
Here is some news from our friends at Renault Sport…Renault Sport expands Asian presence!
Groupe Renault today confirmed its plans to stimulate the development of the burgeoning Chinese motorsport scene. Renault Sport and Dongfeng Renault Automotive Company announced upcoming Chinese karter Sun Yue Yang will join the Renault Sport Academy. In parallel, a new scholarship was announced for Chinese drivers competing in Asian Formula Renault.
Sun Yue Yang to join Renault Sport Academy
Yue Yang will join the prestigious Renault Sport Academy, which aims to identify hot young talent at global level and prepare them for the multi-faceted challenges of top-level motorsport.
Fifteen-year-old Yue Yang, who hails from Shanghai, is the first Chinese driver to finish on the podium in the competitive World Series Karting Champions Cup. Currently fifth in the hard-fought series, he also races in the WSK Super Master Series across Europe and was the first Chinese driver to win a round of the German Karting Championship, the DKM. He started karting in 2014, winning seven heats in 2015 and becoming the first Chinese driver to finish in the top 30 drivers.
Alongside current Academy members Jack Aitken, Louis Delétraz, Kevin Jörg and Oliver Rowland, Yue Yang will be given expert guidance on the best career path to reach F1. Signed on a multi-year development deal, Yue Yang will follow a long-term plan that will see him hone his racecraft in karts before making his single-seater debut at the end of the year. In subsequent seasons, he will be given set objectives and continuously evaluated on his increasing technical knowledge and fitness with the target of reaching F1.
The Renault Sport Academy was rejuvenated this year but Renault has long supported young drivers. The first Formula Renault series took place in 1971 and many eminent drivers cut their teeth in the formula, including Jacques Laffite and Jean Ragnotti. Subsequently, Renault offered the winner of the Elf-Winfield Racing school a full year of Formula Renault, with Alain Prost winning the series in 1976. Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton have also been through the ranks of Formula Renault to win multiple Formula 1 titles, while the likes of Robert Kubica, Heikki Kovalainen and Loic Duval have graduated from the Renault Development programme to become race winners.
Fred Vasseur, Racing Director of Renault Sport Racing, commented: ‘The Renault Sport Academy is a highly beneficial tool for young drivers. Firstly, we thoroughly evaluate them to give the right steer through the vast motorsport landscape. Then, they are exposed to the pinnacle of technology through the F1 team and what is required to get there. In short, we aim to turn each Academy driver into an elite athlete, capable of performing to his or her absolute best.
‘The Academy is also a tool for the Renault markets to better engage with motorsport within their own regions. We are pleased and proud to give Renault China the opportunity through the Academy to bring Yue Yang through the ranks. Yue Yang has shown strong potential in WSK to, with the right preparation, work his way to Formula 1. The opportunities for both Yue Yang and Renault China to benefit from this partnership are huge.’
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