Dec.22 (GMM) Vitaly Petrov is staying at Renault for two more years, the newly-rebranded Enstone based team announced on Wednesday.

Now calling itself Lotus Renault GP, the team said in a statement that 2010 Russian rookie Petrov is retaining his seat alongside Robert Kubica not only for 2011 but also 2012.

"Last season, he showed on several occasions that he clearly has the potential to deliver," said team owner Gerard Lopez, who also confirmed that Renault is "looking forward to building on (its) special relationship" with Russia.

Said Petrov, 26: "In many ways, 2010 was about learning. 2011 will be about performing."

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