Baguette excited by F1 test opportunity
Friday, 13 November 2009 20:29
Formula Renault 3.5 champion Bertrand Baguette admits he can’t wait to sample F1 machinery for the first time when he drives a Renault R29 at the Jerez young driver test.
The 23-year-old’s debut F1 test is a prize for winning the French manufacturer’s premier junior series, the young Belgian having dominated this year’s championship with five wins and 10 podium finishes.
He says he's delighted to been given the chance to take the next step on the motorsport ladder with Renault and expects driving its latest F1 car on December 1 to be an “unbelievable” experience.
“This will be a great first for me, it’s all my childhood dreams come true and, at the same time, it’s every racing driver's ultimate goal,” Baguette said.
“It’s thanks to Renault that I was able to get into single-seater racing, by winning a programme set up by Renault in Belgium to discover up-and-coming young talent from karting.
“Since then, I’ve driven every Renault single-seater, from Formula Renault 1.6 to Formula Renault 3.5 via Formula Renault 2.0.
“Driving the Renault F1 R29 kind of completes the set as far as I’m concerned!
“The first few laps in Formula 1 must be really unbelievable, with a lighter, more powerful car that has just phenomenal cornering speeds.
“I’ll have everything to learn, not just the car itself, but also a new environment, lots of new parameters, a different way of working. The only thing I will be familiar with will be the Jerez circuit!"
Baguette is currently carrying out a specific physical training programme in order to be ready for the gruelling F1 environment ahead of a briefing at Renault’s Enstone base.
He is aware that the quality of his feedback to the team’s race engineers will be one of the main areas in which his performance is assessed.
“The most important thing for me is not really driving the fastest possible lap,” the Belgian added.
“The aim of this day will be to work hard with the team and to carry out the test programme that Renault F1 Team is going to define seriously and professionally.
“Rather than my outright speed, it will be my ability to analyse the car’s handling and my communication with the members of the team that will be gauged.
“I can’t wait. I’m going to have to take things one step at a time and be cautious. It’s a terrific opportunity to be able to take part in testing with a team as prestigious as the Renault F1 Team."
New Renault F1 driver Robert Kubica made his test debut in the top flight with Renault in 2005 on the back of winning FR3.5.
By: ITV