Viry lucky thirteen

The Renault F1 Team presents Corinne, Nathalie, Hélène, Sylvie, Audrey, Christine, Karine, Claire, Ingrid, Evelyne, Rosa and Micheline. They are the only thirteen women among the 250 men of the engine factory; thirteen women who contribute towards the success of the Renault F1 Team.

This is no secret: Formula One has always been a men story. Motorsport usually attracts more men than women. However, if you make a detour by the Renault F1 Team engine factory in Viry-Chatillon you will run into women working in almost all the departments and whose passion and devotion equal their male colleagues’.

Off course, 5% is a small number, but still good enough to satisfy the fairer sex. “I feel comfortable in this male environment”, explains Evelyne, Salary Manager. “Two years ago, when I arrived here in Renault Sport, I realized that there is a real exchange with the male gender rather than putting women aside”. Sylvie, Technical Direction Assistant goes even further: “Members of the R&D Office always take the time to explain to me a new part and its main functionalities. They even come down to the workshop with me in order to show me exactly where the part goes onto the engine. I may not know how to build an engine, but I sure know how it works!”

Men and women from Viry all together are prompted by the same passion: Formula One. “When I think about F1, I immediately hear the distinctive sound of the engine!” says Corinne, Chairman and CEO P.A.. “It’s a real pleasure to hear the engine roar every day on the dyno bench. But more than that, all technological aspects of the car really amaze me.” Although it has not always been the case for all of them - as confesses Ingrid, from the Finance Department - their views on F1 have changed since working at Renault Sport: “It’s become a real passion. It’s just impossible to remain indifferent when working in such a demanding environment among people totally devoted to their work.”

And after the fabulous start of the 2006 season, they could not be more enthusiastic. “The first three GPs confirmed the ambitions we had on the potential of the RS26” explains Céline, Test engineer on Mono-cylinder and Combustion. “We built up our processes on our 2005 success and adapted them to the new engine.” Any guess for the rest of the season? “We are very optimistic for the rest of the season although we know we will have to work even harder” comments Christine, Projector Drawer. “Winning the constructors title once again won’t be easy since our rivals are very competitive and they won’t give up. We are working really hard on improving the RS26 and give it even more power and reliability.”

To allow the team to reach its goals, every one knows that Renault offers the best working environment to the members of the Renault F1 Team. “We are offered with very good material that helps us to work in optimal conditions”, confirms Rosa, from the HR Department. “Renault gives us the means to carry out our mission. We are very lucky to be here.” “When we hear the Marseillaise playing during the podium ceremony after a Grand Prix, it actually celebrates the know-how and the technical excellence of Renault at an international level.” explains Nathalie, Internal Communications Manager.

Even if there are not many of them, women from Renault Sport play an undeniable and active part in the success of the French Team, and their motivation overcomes any sexist debate: “When we win a race or the team makes a strong result, we congratulate each other”, says Claire, from Finance. “We all have our role to play in order to allow Renault to keep its crown!”