» Renault appoints Oliver Rowland

Formula 2 driver Oliver Rowland has been signed as the Renault F1 team’s development driver for the 2017 Formula 1 season.

The Englishman was signed to Renault’s young driver scheme when the French carmaker returned as a constructor in 2016, dovetailing this with his first full-time campaign in the feeder GP2 Series. Driving for MP Motorsport, the former Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion claimed an impressive four podiums and finished ninth overall in the Drivers’ Championship standings.

In what has been rebranded as the FIA Formula 2 Championship, Rowland has switched teams and joined Renault’s feeder DAMS team for the 2017 season (pictured above). In his role with Renault, he will provide support to the team’s full-time drivers, Nico Hülkenberg and Jolyon Palmer.

“We know Oliver very well and we are very pleased to reward his work with this position,” Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport’s Managing Director, said.

“The development driver is an important position in a team and it is very interesting to have someone who already knows us well.”

“My aim has always been to get a role in F1 so it’s great to see all my hard work pay off,” twenty-four-year-old Rowland added.

“The Renault Sport Academy was the perfect training ground and the role of development driver is another great step after being within the Renault family for so many years. I learnt a lot last year including working at Enstone in the simulator, so I feel well prepared for this role.

“I’m proud to be part of the team and I’ll be working hard to do everything I can to assist the team in their development of the R.S.17.”

WHO IS OLIVER ROWLAND?
		Full Name	Oliver Rowland
		Nationality	British
		Born	10 August 1992, Sheffield (GBR)
		Age	24
		Website	www.oliver-rowland.com
		Twitter	oliverrowland1
		Instagram	None

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2010	Formula Renault 2.0 UK Winter Series, CRS Racing, 1 win, 7th overall
2011	Formula Renault UK, Fortec Motorsport, 4 wins, 13 podiums, 2nd overall Formula Renault 2.0 UK Finals Series, Fortect Motorsport, 4 wins, 6 podiums, 1st overall
2012	Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Fortec Motorsport, 1 win, 3 podiums, 3rd overall
2013	Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Manor MP Motorsport, 3 wins, 8 podiums, 2nd overall
2014	Formula Renault 3.5 Series, Fortect Motorsports, 2 wins, 7 podiums, 4th overall
2015	Formula Renault 3.5 Series, Fortec Motorsports, 8 wins, 13 podiums, 1st overall GP2 Series, MP Motorsport and Status Grand Prix, 21st overall
2016	GP2 Series, MP Motorsport, 4 podiums, 9th overall
2017	FIA Formula 2 Championship, DAMS, season in progress Formula 1, Renault Sport F1, Development Driver