Renault adds Pat Fry to Enstone management team!

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Renault has announced that former McLaren engineer Pat Fry will strengthen the French outfit's management team at Enstone following the end of his current "contractual obligations".

Fry's high-profile hiring is the second announcement by Renault in the last 24 hours regarding its technical department, the team disclosing yesterday the arrival of former Williams man Dirk de Beer as its Head of Aerodynamics.

Marcin Budkowski, Renault Sport Racing UK Executive Director:

"I am delighted to be able to work with Pat again. His arrival is yet another step as we build and improve our team structure.

"Pat’s experience, talent and determination will be additional assets as we continue our progress."

Renault hasn't divulged Fry's specific responsibilities within the team's Enstone structure where Nick Chester is the outfit's acting technical director.

De Beer takes over as Head of Aerodynamics at Renault

Fry was instrumental in helping McLaren turn around its fortunes this season with its MCL34, but the arrival at Woking earlier this year of new technical director James Key incited Fry to move on from McLaren.

The 55-year-old engineer initially joined McLaren in 1993 for a seventeen-year spell that lasted until he joined Ferrari in 2010, remaining in Maranello until the end of a disappointing 2014 season, when the Scuderia recruited James Allison as its technical director.

Following a short stint as a consultant for Manor during the 2016 season, Fry then rejoined McLaren.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.