Official: Grosjean replaces Petrov at Renault

Romain Grosjean will partner Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus Renault GP in 2012, following confirmation from the outfit that Vitaly Petrov will leave to make way for the Frenchman.

Grosjean originally joined the team back in 2009 when he replaced Nelson Piquet Jnr following a falling out between then team principal Flavio Briatore and the Brazilian.

He competed in seven races, his best a 13th position in Brazil.

After a year away from the sport, he competed in both GT1, winning twice, and Le Mans, before returning to Renault in 2011 under the leadership of Eric Boullier, his manager, as test and reserve driver for the final few races.

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The 25-year-old will now race for the outfit, under the banner of Lotus, for the 2012 season, partnering the experienced Raikkonen who was confirmed as the teams first driver last week.

“I am thrilled to be one of the team’s race drivers in 2012,” Grosjean said. “There’s a big grin on my face at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of next year’s car, and I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity.

“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.

“Returning to Enstone as a race driver feels like coming home. I will not disappoint and I wish to thank all the people without whom this return to F1 would not have been possible. Total, which supports me since 2006, and Gravity Sport Management, are first on this list.”

Renault co-owner Gerard Lopez added: “Only last week I reiterated that the team is at the start of a brand new cycle.

“Announcing Romain as our race driver alongside Kimi is great news and will help us achieve our aims of getting back to the very top. The announcements we made today and last week are exciting ones for our team and there is a real buzz surrounding us now.”