Alonso to demo championship winning R25 in Abu Dhabi

Fernando Alonso will be reunited in Abu Dhabi this weekend with Renault's 2005 championship winning R25, the car that also delivered to the Spaniard his first F1 world title.

To celebrate Renault's F1 heritage on the eve of the French team's transition to the Alpine brand, Alonso will run a series of hot laps onboard the R25 at Yas Marina on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In the capable hands of Alonso and teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, the V10-powered R25 scored eight wins across the 19-race 2005 season, including a triumph in the team's home race at Magny Cours, seven pole positions and 18 podiums to give Renault its first Constructors’ championship and Fernando his first Drivers’ title.

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"It’s very emotional to see the R25 run in anger once again and having Fernando at the wheel is the cherry on the cake," said Renault F boss Cyril Abiteboul.

"The car-driver partnership was a classic time in F1 and remains one of Renault’s proudest achievements in motorsport.

"While the car is a symbol of our past achievements, Fernando reflects our strong ambition to keep pushing for more success and recapture those incredible moments and emotions.

"Of course, any results will now be under the Alpine name but our future success will all be homage to this amazing time in Renault’s F1 history."

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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.