Renault prepares for Lyon spectacle

The Renault F1 Team Roadshow will touch down in Lyon on Sunday 5 September 2004 for a festival celebration of Renault's rich motorsport heritage. The City of Lyon will close off a 1.3km street circuit in the centre of France's second city, running from the historic Place Bellecour in the heart of the city across the Rhône, and along its Eastern bank.

"We are delighted to be able to put on this show for the public," commented Renault F1 Team President Patrick Faure. "Lyon is an important city for Renault, and this is also a pre-cursor of things to come. The enthusiastic response from previous street events has shown us that Formula 1 needs to get closer to its public, a sentiment that is perfectly in line with Renault's values."

"The Renault Roadshow demonstration in Lyon will be followed by more events around the world in 2005, both at race-tracks and on city streets. We are committed to getting people as close as possible to our exciting sport."

Events will centre on the Place Bellecour, which will take on a distinctly Renault flavour for the day. As well as housing the F1 paddock, the square will feature displays of the six Renault-powered world championship-winning F1 cars from 1992-1997, a live, continuous F1 pit-stop demonstration and much more. For the afternoon, though, all eyes will turn to the city streets and the unique spectacle of an F1 car running through the city streets.

The first event of the afternoon will be a parade of "105 Years of History", showcasing the marque's vehicles over the past century, all the way from the 1898 Type A through to the recently-launched Modus. Next up will be a selection of Renault Cabriolets, including the 2004 Wind Concept Car.

Finally, things will acquire a competitive feel with the Sports display: nine of Renault's most prestigious historic racers, including the 1978 Le Mans winning Alpine Renault in the hands of its original driver Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, and the original Renault F1 car, the 1977 RS01, which will be handled by former F1 star René Arnoux. Renault stalwarts Alain Serpaggi and Jean Ragnotti will also demonstrate rally cars from the last twenty years.

The climax of the event will come with the high-speed demonstration of the new for 2005 GP2 Series racer, to be followed by the Renault F1 R24. Drivers Fernando Alonso and Franck Montagny will take turns at the wheel of the F1 car to wow the crowds along the route. Admission for the general public to the entire event will be free of charge.

"We are all looking forward to putting on a special show in Lyon," commented Fernando Alonso. "I love the roadshow events we have done with the team over the past two years, and I think it is a great idea: it is exciting for the drivers as well to be running on the streets, with people so close around. We are far away from our fans at the races, so this is a great opportunity for the public to experience the true sensations of an F1 car up close. I hope we can give them something to remember!"

The Renault F1 Team would not be able to offer this unique show without the help of its partners in this venture: Renault, the City of Lyon, Renault Trucks, Diac, Elf, GL events, RMC Info, Renault rent, Ecole du Ski Français and Michelin

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