SEPANG, Malaysia, March 20, 2008 (AFP) - Double world champion Fernando Alonso admitted Thursday that a challenge for a third world title following his return this season to Renault is beyond him for this season.

The 26-year-old Spaniard, who returned to Renault after a miserable year with McLaren Mercedes-Benz in 2007, said he hoped that the team would improve in all areas to make a title bid possible next year.

"I would like to have wheel-to-wheel (battles) with a Ferrari or McLaren in a real race," he added. "So that is the real target for this season -- we were too far behind in Melbourne.

"We already knew we were not close enough to fight for important things and we´re well behind Ferrari, McLaren and BMW.

"We are in that group with Red Bull, Williams and Toyota. Sometimes, depending on the circuit, the set-up or strategy, we can sometimes be in front or behind."

Alonso, the champion in 2005 and 2006, finished a fighting fourth for Renault last Sunday, but admitted that that result was as much due to good luck as a good performance.

"It was good (to finish fourth and ahead of Heikki Kovalainen), but obviously we were lucky with that situation. If it was not for the Safety Car, Heikki was one minute in front of us -- so it was not a real situation," he said.

"I´m optimistic. It´s only the first race of the championship and at this point of the year you are always optimistic!

"There are a lot of races and a lot of time and I really think we can close that gap and improve the car a lot. But in F1, nothing is 100 per cent sure and okay, we will improve, but the others will too. It´s up to us to do a better job.

"We need to improve everything starting with the aerodynamics of the car," he said. "We need to improve the efficiency of the car - more down-force, very normal things to be quick.

"Engine-wise I don´t know if we are okay or not, but there´s nothing we can do, the engines are frozen for the last couple of years. We need to keep improving the suspension and the way it works with the Bridgestone tyres. We didn´t match it 100 per cent so far."

"For me, it´s a bit like it was in 2003 and 2004 - you need to fight and close the gap and the races are a little bit more interesting for me because you are always in the middle of a group."