FIRST PICS: Renault launches new car in Monaco.

The Renault F1 team launched their 2006 world championship challenger, the R26, in Monaco today with the 'promise of an aggressive defence' of the team's double world championship.

Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella were both at the ceremony, along with new third driver, Heikki Kovalainen.

"In terms of performance objectives, there can be only one: to be fighting for the world championship in the final races," vowed Renault F1 team president Patrick Faure. "We enter the year with an unchanged line-up in our management, our drivers and our technical team. Everybody at Viry and Enstone has been working to prepare a technical package capable of keeping us at the top. Complacency has no place at Renault. We are focused on repeating our successes."

The R26 meanwhile was run for the first time in Jerez, Spain earlier this month - and has since completed over 2700 kilometres in the hands of both race drivers. Initial indications on both performance and reliability have been very encouraging.

"We have worked on improving the car in every area," added Renault chassis technical director, Bob Bell. "We have integrated the challenges posed by the new V8 engine, and continued on our performance development path. The most striking visual difference comes in the smaller sidepods on the car, but the entire aerodynamic package is new. We will also use a 7-speed gearbox, to best exploit the power and torque characteristics of the new engine. Of course, we have also worked to maintain the positive handling characteristics that made the car easy to drive last year. The R26 is an aggressive statement from the team, and it says that we mean to stay on top in 2006."

For more pictures from the team's launch CLICK HERE