Russian Sponsors get behind Petrov’s bid for 2011 Seat

Published : September 22, 2010 :: 12:09:06 [ 917 views ]

The Renault Formula One team have secured their second Russian sponsor with a shipyard from driver Vitaly Petrov’s hometown joining carmaker Lada on the outfit’s setup.

International, the 22^nd of September 2010: In a team statement, Renault advised that the Vyborg Shipyard JSC would have its logos on both cars as well as Petrov’s race overalls from Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix onwards.

Former world champions Renault, who have undergone a rapid transformation since the pull out of sponsors over their involvement in a race fixing scandal last year, have begun to show signs of their former glory with sponsors jumping on board in a bid to boast the team’s efforts.

Petrov, dubbed the ‘Vyborg Rocket’ in his homeland, is Russia’s first Formula One driver, registering four point scoring efforts in his debut season with a best finish of fifth in Hungary. His place at Renault in 2011 remains under threat however with only Polish teammate Robert Kubica having resigned for next season.

“I think we are in a key moment for us economically speaking from a Russian perspective. Now we are trying to see if the Russian market is going to respond but whether the market responds or not we still have to judge him as a driver,” team chairman and major shareholder Gerard Lopez told Reuters.

“We have options, preferred options, outside of him if we were not to keep Vitaly,” added Lopez. “But for now he is our second driver and we are trying to do everything we can to make sure he stays our second driver.”

Finland’s former world champion Kimi Raikkonen has been linked to a comeback with the team in 2011 having spent the last year racing in the World Rally Championships.

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