The superb Renault motor racing team, led by managing director Flavio Briatore, won a second straight Constructors World Championship in 2006, as their No.1 driver Fernando Alonso secured his second drivers’ World Championship.
Renault had made a strong start to the year, but a rejuvenated Ferrari fought back in the second half of the season as Michael Schumacher tried to win a record eighth World Championship in his retirement year. In a thrilling finish, Renault just held on to beat Ferrari by 206-201 points.
During the year Alonso won Grand Prix in Bahrain, Australia, Spain, Monaco, Britain, Canada and Japan, while his team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella won in Malaysia.
Renault, who won the 2006 Laureus World Team of the Year Award, is motor sport’s most international team, with Italian Briatore overseeing an operation which has its production factory located in the heart of the UK’s motor sport valley in Oxfordshire and its Renault Sport’s engine plant at Viry-Châtillon, 20km south of Paris.
