Renault Vitality Esports has signed former Red Bull driver Nicolas Longuet as its first confirmed driver for the 2020 Pro Series.
Longuet was picked up by Red Bull in the 2019 Pro Draft but only participated in one race in the subsequent season.
His chance came at Monza during the third of four live events and he was immediately competitive. Longuet led the race multiple times and eventually took a second-place finish.
At the final round, Red Bull sealed the teams’ title and then Longuet gave up a drive in the final race so his team-mate Frederik Rasmussen could have an unsuccessful shot at the drivers’ title.
Longuet joins Renault, who leapt from ninth to fourth in the standings last year after a miserable 2018 debut. Last winter, the team renewed its partnership with Esports giants Team Vitality.
Ex-Formula Renault Eurocup racer Jarno Opmeer finished fourth in the drivers’ standings for Renault and is likely to continue with the team into 2020, although nothing is confirmed.
His 2019 team-mate Cedric Thome, who earned his maiden F1 Esports win at Montreal, announced his departure from the team on Thursday. He’ll be available for selection at the Pro Draft.
The team’s 2019 Pro Draft recruit Simon Weigang also announced his exit, he competed in four races for Renault with a best finish of seventh place.
Renault’s 2018 driver and 2019 team coach James Doherty has left the team and re-joined Veloce Esports.
Elsewhere, Williams Esports has released Isaac Price and Tino Naukkarinen from its F1 Esports roster. Both will be in the Pro Draft.
Price will continue to race for Williams across other esports championships, such as in the Super Final for the 2020 Le Mans Esports Series.
Renault, along with the other nine F1 teams, will add one driver to their line-ups in April’s Pro Draft.
