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Benetton
B201
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The Mild Seven Benetton Renault Sport team today presented their challenger for the 2001 season, the B201, in one of the most spectacular locations in the world: St Mark’s Square, Venice.
The car was initially presented to the media and public behind a wall of water, which then descended to reveal the B201 against the stunning backdrop of the square.
The Mayor of Venice, Paolo Costa, granted exclusive permission for the car’s position in the square, in acknowledgement of the Benetton Group’s final year of involvement in Formula 1.
Prior to the car’s unveiling, the media were treated to a private presentation in the old granaries of the Republic on the Giudecca island.
There, Patrick Faure, President of Renault Sport explained the team’s approach to 2001:
"2001 will be above all a year of adjustment and transition. It is a year in which we will strengthen and develop the team and will test new solutions, particularly the RS21 engine, which represents a great technological leap forward in terms of compactness, weight & efficiency.
"Technological research and innovation are the very essence of Formula 1," he continued. "In order to win, new creative solutions are needed new engines and new aerodynamics but also new creative partners."
Team Managing Director Flavio Briatore added:
"Winning the championship in 2001 is not our goal. Our goal is to put the right people with the right tools and put a development
program in place to lay the foundations for our future challenge.
"We have carried out a significant recruitment
program that began in 2000 and will bear fruit throughout 2001, to get the people necessary to make a championship-winning team," he explained.
"A key advantage for the team is that we have Renault Sport UK in Enstone and Renault Sport France in Viry, where the teams work closely together to fully homologate the car. We also have the might of Renault offering all the technical support we need."
The team confirmed continuing deals with Mild Seven, Korean Air, Marconi and D2 and announced new partnerships with Playstation, Michelin and Elf.
And the team’s 2001 driver line-up of Giancarlo Fisichella, Jenson Button and test driver Mark Webber was also introduced for the first time.
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Enrique Bernoldi
