Renault set sights on title challenge

Renault must aim to be multiple race winners and championship challengers this season, the Formula One team's chairman Patrick Faure said yesterday.

"This year we are facing another hard step," he said as the team unveiled their new R25 car in Monaco, the Mediterranean principality where they took their sole victory of 2004 with Jarno Trulli.

"We always said 2005 and 2006 were the years when we wanted to be fighting for the world title. We have to win races, plural, and not just one," added Faure.

Trulli has moved to Toyota since his Monaco success and Renault look to young Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, both race winners, to bring them closer to champions Ferrari.

The R25 has looked quick in initial testing, possibly the fastest of all the new generation seen so far although Ferrari will contest the first four races with a revised version of their old car.

Alonso said he was confident the team could raise their game after they finished last year third overall behind Honda-powered BAR.

"The first test is always very difficult for a new car but we had no problems," he said. "I had a good confidence from the first laps.

"I'm really convinced that this car can be fantastic this season and will be a surprise for some people."

Fisichella, who raced for Renault in the past and returns from Sauber, has one victory under his belt - a lucky win with Jordan in the rain-hit Brazilian Grand Prix of 2003.

He had to wait a week to find out he had won, however, after a timing error.

"I hope this year he can find out that he's the winner on the same Sunday as the race," said compatriot and team boss Flavio Briatore.