Red Bull scrapped own KERS project

(GMM) Red Bull abandoned its own project to develop a KERS system for 2009 and will instead source the technology from engine supplier Renault.

Mid last year, the local fire brigade was called when a high voltage battery failed during in-factory KERS testing at the team's Milton Keynes headquarters.

It is not known if this incident alone motivated the decision to scrap the program, but David Coulthard confirmed at the Autosport International show that Red Bull's KERS is now "coming as part of the engine package".

"Red Bull initially looked at developing its own system and then decided it would be economically better and more efficient to work with Renault," the retired race driver, now an advisor to the energy drink-owned squad Scot, is quoted as saying by ITV.