18 August,2009 04:02 PM IST | | AFP
Formula One team Renault announced on Tuesday that Frenchman Romain Grosjean would replace Nelson Piquet Jnr as their No 2 driver behind former world champion Fernando Alonso.
The Swiss-born, 23-year-old Grosjean had been the team's reserve driver during the first part of the season. The European GP at Valencia on August 23 will be his debut start in Formula One Grand Prix racing.
Renault chief Flavio Briatore said that agreement had been reached with Piquet to terminate his contract following a disappointing run of results that had left him with no points in the drivers standings.
Grosjean, he said "was a promising young talent who will be given the chance to show what he can do alongside Fernando for the second half of the season."
Piquet was the second driver this year to lose his place following Toro Rosso's decision to drop Frenchman Sebasttien Bourdais.
