From GMM

A spokeswoman for Renault has confirmed reports the French team's new F1 car for 2009 has failed a crash test.

The launch and test debut of the R29 will proceed as scheduled later this month in Portugal, but it emerged that the car did not pass two of the mandatory FIA tests at the first attempt.

"We have identified the problem and solved it," the spokeswoman said, without confirming the details of the failed tests, including suggestions an entire chassis was written off.

"We will be able to run the car as planned in Portugal," she insisted.