New Renault Fails Crash Test

Crash test failures are not unusual in Formula One, with teams pushing their designs to the limit.

Former champions' Renault's 2009 Formula One car has failed a mandatory crash test but the launch will proceed as planned later this month, a team spokeswoman said on Friday.

"We have identified the problem and solved it," she said, giving no further details. "We will be able to run the car as planned in Portugal."

The R29 car is due to be launched before a regular test session at the new Portimao circuit in southern Portugal on Jan. 19.

The autosport.com website said the car was believed to have failed nose and side impact tests, with one chassis seriously damaged.

Crash test failures are not unusual in Formula One, with teams pushing their designs to the limit.

Renault also failed one before the start of the 2005 season that brought them their first championship with Spain's Fernando Alonso, and have plenty of time to rectify the problem.

The team won two races with the double world champion last year and aim to be back in the hunt for the title when the season starts in Australia on March 29.

Brazilian Nelson Piquet is Alonso's team mate.