Renault clarifies role in GP2.

Less than 24 hours after the rebirth of F3000 as GP2, the first clarification over the new series' status has been issued.

Although it has confirmed that it will be supplying engines to the new championship - as had been rumoured for many months - Renault has published a statement claiming that it is involved in no other way.

"Following yesterday's press release regarding the GP2 Series, Renault would like to clarify that they are not the organisers of the series," the announcement read, "Renault's involvement in the GP2 [series] is supporting the series by supplying engines."

Despite the clarification, Renault remained fully in favour of the new series.

"Renault are quite confident that the GP2 will become the stepping stone for drivers in Formula One," the statement concluded.

The FIA believed that Renault may have had a greater influence on the series than it now appears, noting the "press release regarding the proposed formula GP2
series, one of several Renault promotional formulae".

The governing body went to say that the new series would be subject to the usual agreements before it could run on the F1 bill.

"Like any other private series, Renault GP2 cars can run during FIA Formula One World Championship weekends, subject to making the necessary commercial
arrangements with Formula One Management Limited, the commercial rights holders," its statement continued, "The FIA has not yet seen any proposed technical or sporting regulations for this series. When received, the draft regulations will be considered in the usual way."

Monday had seen the first formal announcement of a replacement for F3000, which pledged an all-new chassis engine combination pairing the talents of Renault and Dallara.

"The chassis and the engine will be more sophisticated than the current F3000 and the engine will produce 600bhp," an organiser's statement read.