Charouz checks on Renault’s Valencia progress

Czech racing driver Jan Charouz has had a busy few days. In addition to preparation for the new World Series by Renault season, he began to fulfil the duties resulting from his inclusion in the RF1 Driver Programme. On Wednesday Charouz met the team during the official F1 tests in Valencia.

Last Sunday the Renault F1 Team officially announced its driver line-up for 2010 season. In addition to racing drivers Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov and the third driver Ho-Pin Tung, Charouz and Jerome d’Ambrosio this year who will be involved in the RF1 Driver Programme, which could help them prepare for subsequent entry into the highest level of motorsport.

On Wednesday Charouz had the first opportunity to familiarise himself with the team when he visited Valencia while Renault tested the new R30. The 22-year-old Czech driver spent the day with drivers and technicians.

"It was really nice day,” Charouz began. “I met with all members of the team and I had time to talk with Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov. Throughout the day I could watch all over the radio communications between drivers and boxes, I attended all meetings with engineers and drivers, which of course was interesting and beneficial for me. It was a great experience.

“Moreover, the team worked in quite a good atmosphere thanks to the achieved times,” he continued. “After the last season, nobody expected they would be the fastest at Valencia, so they were satisfied with the results.”

Next week Charouz will head to the team base at Enstone for a seat fitting and later this month he will complete a shakedown of the R30 at Silverstone.