Renault run thrills spectators in Warsaw

Renault kicked off their 2007 road show program in style on Sunday, as race driver Heikki Kovalainen took to the streets of downtown Warsaw in a R26. Kovalainen’s demonstration run, the first of its kind to be held in Poland, attracted a crowd of 80,000.

“I am really pleased to have been able to come to Warsaw for this road show," enthused the young Finn. “At Renault, we are always trying to get people to see Formula One in a new way and to get them behind the scenes, and the road show is a brilliant way of doing it! I really enjoyed myself today, and people were very friendly, and I hope they had as much fun watching the show as I did behind the wheel!"

Kovalainen wowed the assembled fans with a variety of tricks including doughnuts as he ran along the 2.6 kilometer temporary circuit, which was located behind the Polish city’s university library. The track also crossed the Swietokryski Bridge over the famous Vistula River, where the R26 was able to reach speeds of over 240 km/h.

The Warsaw event marked the start of Renault’s fifth season of city-centre demonstrations, which aim to put enthusiasts from around the world as close to the action as possible. The French team’s next port of call will be South Africa from July 28 to 29.