Williams revived memories of its glory years Tuesday by announcing a return in 2012 to the Renault engines that powered it to a string of Formula One titles in the 1990s. The team, which is currently with Cosworth and also has a relationship with Indian-owned Jaguar outside of Formula One, said in a statement that it had agreed a long-term chassis-engine partnership with the French manufacturer. The deal, which will see the team use the same engines as world champion Red Bull next season, extends to 2013 with a view to continuing the partnership after the introduction of a new V6 turbo in 2014. “Our previous relationship with Renault was one of the most successful in Williams' history but we will not allow ourselves to dwell too much on the past,” said team principal Frank Williams. “We must look to the future and continue to re-build our on-track reputation, which I am hopeful that today's announcement will help us to do.” Renault is already supplying three teams – Red Bull, Lotus-backed Renault and Team Lotus. Together, Williams and Renault won 63 Grands Prix between 1989 and 1997 and four drivers' and five constructors' championships. Britons Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, both attending the announcement at the factory, took titles in 1992 and 1996 while Canadian Jacques Villeneuve was world champion in 1997.
