Alain Dassas, president of the Renault F1 team, has left Renault and is heading to Nissan where he has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. Bernard Rey, currently Senior Vice President, will succeed Dassas.
Alain Dassas has been president of the Renault F1 team since April 2006 and has seen his team win a successive double world championship. “My time as President of the Renault F1 Team has been a rich, rewarding experience in personal and professional terms,” Dassas commented. “The Renault F1 Team is a world-class group of highly-motivated, competitive individuals and it has been a privilege to take part in the adventure.
“From a professional point of view, we have achieved the objective set when I assumed this role: to engineer a detailed, long-term commitment to Renault’s Formula One future. The team is in good health, and well-placed to return to the front of the field next season. I wish them every success and while I look forward to my next challenge within the Renault Nissan Alliance, I will remain one of the team’s most loyal supporters.”
“The Renault F1 Team is proof of the Renault Group’s ability to excel at the highest level, and I am greatly looking forward to returning to the world of motorsport,” Rey commented. The team is preparing to return to the highest level next season, and is well-placed to do so in terms of personnel and resources. It is a highly-capable group led by Flavio Briatore, whose abilities are well-known. I look forward to enjoying many future successes together.”
Dassas is confident that Renault will bounce back from a poor season by their standards, and will be a firm competitor for the titles in 2008. “The team is already working hard preparing for the 2008 season, and the target is obviously to return to the front of the field, where Renault belongs,” he said. “So far, the situation looks positive and on the financial side, everything is in place for the team to do so.
“The team’s title partner, ING, has demonstrated a strong commitment to the sport and is already one of the best known in Formula One. We have established a very good working relationship between the two companies at every level. In addition, we recently announced a substantial programme of technology investment at Enstone to ensure the team maintains its on-track competitiveness. Motivation is very high, and I am confident the team can be competitive from 2008.”
