Alonso on the pace as he puts McLaren and Hamilton spat behind him

Alonso returned to the Renault cockpit today for the first time since clinching the second of his back-to-back titles with the French marque in 2006, and he was immediately back on the pace.

On the second day of a three-day test in Jerez, the 26-year-old even sported a new helmet design to go with the new era, and promptly set the fastest time.

All that was lacking for Alonso was a new car as Renault are not due to launch their challenger for the forthcoming season until January 31 in Paris.

Despite driving last year's car, albeit without driver aids such as traction control which are now banned, Alonso posted a lap of one minute 19.503secs, 0.147secs faster than McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa.

Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen was third quickest in his Ferrari, followed by Nico Rosberg for Williams and then Felipe Massa and Heikki Kovalainen in the second Ferrari and McLaren.

"There were a lot of good feelings meeting up with the team again today, good memories and plenty of optimism," said Alonso.

"There are new colours for me, a new helmet that I designed for the new season - the only thing we are missing is the new car!"

When asked whether he saw 2008 as the start of a new adventure with Renault, or like picking up an old story for another chapter, he replied: "I think both are true.

"The team is completely different to the one I left in 2006.

"There have been some big changes, they have improved a lot of things and strengthened many areas, so in one sense it is a new adventure with a new team.

"At the same time, it is impossible to forget the six years I spent as a Renault driver, and my memories of that time are still strong."

As last year with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, Alonso has a rookie driver as a team-mate in Nelson Piquet Jnr.

But unlike last year when Hamilton and Alonso were treated equally by McLaren, a stance that enraged the Spaniard, he will be number one driver with Renault.

"I said last year that too many false things were written, but I understand that is what sells newspapers," insisted Alonso.

"I haven't really got to know Nelsinho yet, but he seems to me to be a normal, nice guy who wants to enjoy his time in Formula One.

"That is no different to (Tarso) Marques, (Jenson) Button, (Jarno) Trulli, Fisi (Giancarlo Fisichella), (Franck) Montagny or (Allan) McNish, all of whom were my teammates, all of whom I got on well with and who are still friends.

"For 2008, I don't anticipate problems with anybody, and (team principal) Flavio (Briatore) has always demonstrated that he can manage these situations very well."

Pointedly, the one name missing from the above list is Hamilton, while the latter remark refers to his strained relationship with McLaren boss Ron Dennis So as for his approach to 2008, he added: "It will be the same as I have always had.

"At the start of any season, the only thing I want to do is work hard, and to give maximum effort to achieve my potential.

"I know I can do this successfully with Renault because we have managed it in the past.

"I want to give everything I can, and I know the team will do everything to win. This is always our approach to the sport."