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Briatore Wants Improved Performances for 2009 Car

Following Renault's performances during the last few races, with Fernando Alonso scoring back-to-back wins at Singapore and Fuji and Nelsinho Piquet making the point-scoring positions more often, team's managing director Flavio Briatore has become more confident in his team's chances to challenge for wins in the upcoming season.

“I think what we need to do now is not lose the momentum and make sure we have the same performance in the same direction for next year's car. I think it was a good improvement and a good performance from the team in the last six or seven races. I believe after the French Grand Prix we are there all the time, and Fernando Alonso has scored more points than anyone other than Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa,” said Briatore.

Starting the season with a 1.5-second deficit to Ferrari and McLaren, the French team has now grown to challenge for podiums and are well-ahead of BMW in terms of current performance on track – with the Germans already focusing on their 2009 car from the mid-season on.

Not only that, but rookie Nelsinho Piquet has shown clear signs of improvement in the last couple of races, joining his teammate in 'points' and already making it difficult for team's officials not to give him another racing seat for 2009.

“I am very happy for the performance of the team, we have two wins, we have a second place with Piquet. I think in this moment I believe that we are the third team because we are doing a little bit better than BMW,” added Briatore.

The Brazilian is currently 12th in the overall classification, with 19 points, while teammate Alonso secured 6th place in the standings, two points ahead of McLaren replacer for 2008 Heikki Kovalainen. Renault has also strengthened their 4th place in the Constructors' Standings after the Chinese race, now holding a 20-point advantage over 5th place Toyota.
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