Renault driver development programme 2005
Started in 2002, the RDD helps young drivers to become the stars of the (near) future. The most known of the talents is Heikki Kovalainen who won this year's champions race at Monaco. The primary objective of the programme is to identify promising young drivers, sign him to a long-term contract and accompany him to the top levels of motorsport.
The RDD is a comprehensive and demanding programme, which demands a serious desire to win. Renault gives each driver a target at the start of the season and, at year end, evaluates their on-track performance, but also their motivation and professionalism away from the track. Renault view the young drivers as ambassadors for the brand, and they must reflect the values the company holds dear: excellent communications, adaptability, enthusiasm and language abilities which include English.
Training: laying the foundations Top line physical and mental preparation are the foundation of the RDD programme. Nothing is left to chance: a driver is, above all, a top line athlete and to be successful, he must be in top shape.
Under the watchful eye of coach Daryl Coombes, the RDD drivers have a daily training regime, and they have to stick to it. The training is customised according to the driver’s strengths and weaknesses in each sport. They focus in particular on swimming, running, cycling, racket sports, climbing, watersports, reaction and balance tests, neck, back and shoulder development exercises and finally stamina in order to improve their aerobic capacity.
On top of this demanding daily regime, the drivers drop into Enstone regularly during the year for a week’s individual training where they not only undergo assessments their physical conditioning, but also fine-tune the training regime according to their schedule and overall fitness.
Finally, nutrition has an important role to play in the drivers’ physical preparation. The RDD programme provides personalised recommendations on diet and food intake. A properly-fed, well hydrated sportsman performs at a higher level.
Team Spirit and Healthy Competition Two or three times a year, the RDD programme organises a training camp for the entire group. Away from the HPC (Human Performance Centre), the entire RDD team meets up for a week of intensive sporting activity. On the menu are cycling, running, tennis, squash, swimming, climbing or even surfing…
Building team spirit is an important priority. The training camps bond the drivers together while sharpening their competitive instincts. A healthy rivalry reigns between them, which pushes them to excel themselves and want to win. The RDD drivers enjoy spending time together – making training fun is an important part of maintaining their motivation and desire to succeed.
HPC The Renault F1 Team’s Enstone (England) base possesses a specific infrastructure dedicated to driver training. This building is known as the Human Performance Centre (HPC), and the RDD drivers can use the high-tech facilities to hone their physical performance.
5 young talents at the wheel For the 2005 season, the watchword is continuity. Four drivers from last year’s line-up are among the class of 2005, including Finn Heikki Kovalainen, who will race in GP2 after winning the World Series by Nissan and Race of Champions last year. Argentine Jose Maria Lopez, Frenchman Loïc Duval and Brazilian Lucas DiGrassi have also retained their places. They will be joined by Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado.
