Changing of the guard at Renault.

5th January 2010



On the day that Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds learnt their fate at the Tribunal de Grande Instance, France's high court, Renault announced their new team boss who hails from their new partners Genii. Eric Boullier has been the CEO of Gravity Sport Management – looking after young drivers including Ho-Pin Tung, Adrien Tambay, Jerome D'Ambrosio and Christian Vietoris - the company backed by Renault co-owner Gerard Lopez.

Boullier, who is 36, worked as an engineer for the RJ Racing team in sportscars, before taking up a full-time position as chief engineer at Racing Engineering. From the start of 2002, he was in charge of the team's World Series by Nissan programme, and in particular looked after Frenchman Franck Montagny.

In 2003, he moved to French team DAMS as its managing and technical director. There, he oversaw the team's activities in the various categories that it was competing in - which included taking charge of the A1 Team France effort from 2007 until 2009.

Boullier defined his role, saying; “I will concentrate solely on the sporting and performance aspects. Bob Bell will oversee the Design Office, Production and the technical development of the car. We have already had a lot of discussions and we think in the same way. I think that we will work well together.”

When asked about the team’s objectives for 2010, he stated, “It is still a little early to describe them precisely, but my mission is foremost to put the team back on track by concentrating on two main themes. One of my priorities will be to put in place an organisation that flows and is efficient in order for the Enstone base to work in harmony. Then, for the performance, we must put in place an improved feedback process. It won't happen in two months, we know that, but it will need to be progressive and solid. Today we have all the means to reach this objective. The budget is fixed, 60% of the wind tunnel has been upgraded and our high-tech CFD centre is now in full swing. So there's everything to play for.”

It remains to be seen if Robert Kubica regains his seat at Renault for 2010 or if one of the Gravity Sport drivers such as Ho-Ping Tung, who tested well at Jerez last month, will take over. The marketing power of a Chinese driver may sway the odds.