Renault confirms F1 director Faure steps down

PARIS, Mar 13 (Reuters) Renault said today its Formula One director Patrick Faure was stepping down.

Faure would be replaced by 59-year-old Alain Dassas, a former Renault financial director, the team said a day after Fernando Alonso's victory at the season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain.

''Together with Alain Dassas, our objective is to maintain the succesful momentum of the Renault F1 Team,'' Carlos Ghosn, chief executive at Renault, was quoted as saying.

He called Renault's double Formula 1 victory in 2005 ''a historic event,'' which was the fruit of investment and the determination of the entire F1 team.

Alonso made a perfect start to the Formula One season with victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday.

Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, starting from a record-equalling pole position on an all-Ferrari front row, had to settle for second after a thrilling battle with his young rival.

Alonso, the 24-year-old Spaniard who last year became Formula One's youngest champion, made sure of his ninth victory after emerging from his final pitstop just as the 37-year-old German was about to go past.

Alonso has signed a contract to join McLaren in 2007.

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