Formula One champion Renault confirmed reports that the championship winning team will launch its 2007 car in Amsterdam .
Renault technical director Bob Bell said, "Compared to the design of the R26, we are definitely ahead of the game at this stage. The atmosphere at the moment is very good. The work rate is high, as always at this time of the year, and the team is more motivated than ever. Firstly, we are coming off the back of a title-winning season, which always brings a huge boost, and secondly, we have a number of major changes ahead.
"Change and challenges are sources of new motivation. They invigorate a team, and we are looking forward to the new car and the new season with real optimism."
Bell said, "Our objectives for these winter tests are very clear, to find our feet with the Bridgestone tyres, while also building reliability and confidence with the 2007 rear end.
"Everything has gone to plan, and the R26 has been quick when we have run performance programmes. The new gearbox has been operating reliably, which has been a great source of motivation for the team. So far, all the signs indicate that we are making very good progress and that we will be ready to hit the ground running when the R27 runs for the first time in January. Everything is running smoothly.
"The new chassis successfully completed FIA homologation testing this week, while the rear end has already been running in a hybrid R26 chassis since last week's test in Barcelona, and has so far completed several thousand kilometres," he said.
