Riding and driving in Malaysia

As Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, cooked under sunny skies today, Giancarlo and Heikki of the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team were entertaining journalists with a special demo of their driving skills and the new Mégane F1 Team.

“Number 1 in Formula 1. Number 1 in safety.” That’s the latest slogan for Renault in the Asia-Pacific region, and today, it was backed up by two of the men who helped make that ‘number 1 in Formula 1’ a reality: Giancarlo Fisichella, and Heikki Kovalainen.

The F1 drivers were on hand to demonstrate the handling and performance of the special edition Mégane F1 Team, and to reinforce the differences between the race and road environment when it comes to driving. So while the Mégane’s tyres squealed on the closed course, they were both clear that when it comes to getting on the road, there’s no question of racing.

“I am always careful,” explained Heikki Kovalainen. “It is an important responsibility to drive on the road, and I don’t have any need to go fast there. You need to drive safely, and in my position, it is important to be setting a good example for other people too.”

So what did the boys make of the Mégane F1 Team?
“It’s a great car,” commented Giancarlo Fisichella. It may sound like PR-speak, but his enthusiasm for the nimble-handling, quick Mégane was real. “There are lots of features on here that resemble the F1 car. A stiff, responsive chassis which changes direction well, and is good for the safety because it gives the car very good reactions. A powerful engine. Good electronic systems like the ESP and traction control. Plus a way to manage starts that is similar to F1. It is still an everyday car, but with a really good sporty feel.”

As the afternoon closed, thoughts turned ahead to the weekend ahead. What are Fisico’s expectations? “I am feeling very good, very positive,” concluded the Italian. “I spent a couple days in Langkawi training, so I am relaxed and in good condition. This is one of the toughest races of the year, but it’s a great city, and the people are all extremely friendly with a great passion for F1. I think the Renault will be very strong in Malaysia, so let’s see what happens. We are certainly going for the podium, and hopefully the win.”