Alonso and teammate Nelson Piquet are upbeat about Renault's chances, beginning at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

The Spaniard won Australia's 2006 GP while Giancarlo Fisichella won for Renault the previous year.

Alonso made a barnstorming finish to last season, winning back-to-back grands prix in Singapore and Japan and is confident the French team can follow-up this year.

''We finished in a strong position last year and this year our goal is to fight for the championship,'' Alonso said. ''But we have lots of new regulations this year and nobody really knows what will happen ... from what we have seen in testing it seems all the teams are very close and so we will certainly have a fight on our hands.''

Alonso said after initial weather-related setbacks the team had been able to refine the new R29.

''The first test in Portimao [Portugal] was tough as we had some bad luck with the weather but when we introduced updates at the later tests we quickly improved the car,'' he said.

Alonso said new regulations limiting aerodynamics and the introduction of slick tyres could help level the field and will make the race more open than it has been in recent years.

''In the past Albert Park has been a good track for Renault and so I hope we can have a strong weekend,'' he said.

''I think the order of the teams will probably be different from the last few years as we have got used to Ferrari and McLaren dominating, but with the new rules I think there will be lots of cars fighting for the win.

''Hopefully we will be in that fight.''

Renault has decided, unlike most teams, to use the new KERS system, which stores energy used during braking and releases it in a thrust available in limited bursts to the driver in a bid to overtake.

''With the KERS and the moveable wings the drivers now have more work to do inside the cockpit,'' Alonso said.

''I have been working hard to adapt to these new systems so that I can get the most from them in Melbourne.

''I'm not sure if it will make overtaking easier but it will certainly improve lap times.'' AAP