Zoom Rising French driver Romain Grosjean...

GP2 Asia series double winner Romain Grosjean has a bright future having been announced as part of Renault's Formula One plans for the forthcoming season. The Frenchman obviously has high hopes for the coming year both racing in GP2 as well as testing with Renault...

Romain, you have been announced as a Renault team Test Driver for 2008 – you must be delighted?
"It is a pleasure and an honour to be part of the ING Renault F1 Team and, of course, I’m very proud to have the chance to drive an F1 car. This is an opportunity that does not come along every day and I intend to make the most of it. I will work hard to show Renault they did not make a mistake in taking me on, and to do the best job possible."

How are you looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car for the first time?
"For a driver it is a dream to drive an F1 car and I am really looking forward to it. These are the best cars in the world, but they are not easy to drive and there is a lot to learn in a short time. I will have lots to get used to, but I hope to contribute to the team’s success and show the engineers that I am capable of doing a good job."

You are part of an elite group of drivers who have the backing of the Renault Driver Development programme. How important has their support been to your career?
"The support from Renault was vital – it was the only way to keep my racing career going and I am grateful to have the backing of Renault. Racing becomes more expensive as you go up the ladder and so the support of a good programme is essential. It is a big chance and I am proud to be in the Renault Driver Development programme for the 2008 season and will keep working hard for the future."

You enjoyed a successful F3 Euroseries campaign last year, winning the championship. How rewarding was that?
"It is one of the hardest championships and there was extra pressure as I was one of the favourites for the title. I was told that if I won the title, I would get a good seat in GP2 and so I was extremely motivated to do well. It was an enjoyable year and winning the title was great for me. It was a good experience as I had to keep my focus and keep delivering strong performances up until the final races."

As well as testing for the ING Renault F1 Team, you will compete in the GP2 series with ART Grand Prix. How important a step is GP2 for a young driver?