LEAD: Grosjean to drive for Lotus Renault

Dec 9, 2011, 12:30 GMT

Berlin - Romain Grosjean will drive for Lotus Renault next season, the Formula One team said on Friday.

The Frenchman will drive alongside former world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who returns to the sport after a two-year absence.

Grosjean was the team's third driver in the past season and was given two practice session drives in the final two races in Abu Dhabi and Brazil last month.

The 25-year-old, who holds dual French and Swiss nationality, drove seven races for Renault in the 2009 season, finishing with a best-place 13th in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Grosjean, who won the 2011 GP2 Series, said that he felt privileged to be given the opportunity. 'I am thrilled to be one of the team's race drivers in 2012.

'To be racing alongside a former world champion and someone who is hungry and returning to Formula 1 will be a great experience, and I'm sure will help raise my level of performance too.

'I feel that my successful season in GP2 Series has helped me mature a lot, and I am a much more complete driver than I was last time I was competing in this sport.'

Renault team principal Eric Boullier said that he was delighted to have Grosjean and Raikkonen as his drivers. 'Romain has shown a lot of maturity in the past twelve months both through his GP2 Series victory and his development as third driver with us.'

The team ended the season with Russian Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna. The Brazilian took over from German Nick Heidfeld after the 11th race.

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