Alonso to benefit from new engine potential.

Formula One's new engine rules, and the reliability of the Renault RS25 engine, could play into the hands of local hero Fernando Alonso at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, according to his race engineer.

R?mi Taffin has confirmed that the Spaniard, who expects to be racing in front of a capacity crowd at the Circuit de Catalunya, will be equipped with the latest spec RS25 powerplant debuted by team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella. The Italian was able to get his hands on the new engine at Imola following his retirement in Bahrain, but Alonso's winning run meant that he was unable to change until round five this weekend. With each powerplant now expected to last two race weekends, and Monaco to follow Barcelona, Alonso may be allowed to complete more laps than he did at Imola, and use more of the engine's potential.

"The 2005 regulations may play a significant part in how the weekend unfolds," Taffin admits, "Fernando will begin the weekend with a new engine and, as Barcelona is the first half of a pair with Monaco, the least demanding circuit for the engine, we will be able to exploit a significant part of the performance potential over the weekend in Spain - both in terms of mileage and performance.

"On top of that, Barcelona is not an engine track - it is a place where aerodynamic performance rules, and the engine is not repeatedly called upon to accelerate at full throttle from low revs. Indeed, the drivers spend just 58 per cent of the lap at full throttle, some four per cent less than at Imola. However, the engine does need to be flexible because the quick corners mean the engine is often accelerating from the middle of the rev range - and we need power delivery to be as progressive as possible, both to maintain the car's stability through the corners and because a less brutal application of power and torque will help conserve the tyres. Of course, the traction control system also plays a fundamental role in this domain."

Although the Spanish Grand Prix has traditionally been one where the form book remained intact, Taffin reveals that most teams, Renault included, will be on track as much as possible to counteract changes to the road surface made over the winter.

"Although Barcelona is a circuit that all the teams know well from testing, and with whose problems we are familiar, the higher temperatures and change in grip levels relative to testing mean that we must always re-calibrate our control systems for the GP weekend," he explains, "Furthermore, as we will be running the new B-spec RS25 for the first time on both cars, so we will also have to conduct validations on the engine mapping.

"Selection of gear ratios is also a delicate business at Barcelona, particularly in the choice of top gear. With such a long main straight, the engine is at maximum revs for a long time, and we therefore need to leave a margin in order to aid reliability, and also to avoid over-revving in the event that a tailwind is blowing down the straight; of course, these extra revs are also needed for overtaking purposes, although the configuration of the circuit makes these rare."