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Renault Sport

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Renault Sport
Company typeDivision / Sub-brand
IndustryAutomotive, Motorsport
PredecessorAlpine and Gordini racing departments
Founded1976
FateActivities integrated into Alpine business unit by December 2021; brand discontinued by end of 2023
Headquarters
Les Ulis (from 2002)
,
France
ProductsMotorsport vehicles, high-performance road cars, engines
OwnerRenault Group
ParentRenault (until 2021), Alpine (from 2021)

Renault Sport (), also known as Renaultsport, functioned as the division responsible for motorsport, high-performance, and specialized vehicles under the Renault brand. Later, it operated as a sub-brand overseen by Alpine. Originating in 1976 from the fusion of Alpine and Gordini racing departments,[1] it underwent restructuring in 2002 and again in 2016. By December 2021, Renault Sport's activities were integrated into a unified business unit led by Alpine.[2] The entire lineup of Renault Sport vehicles was discontinued by the close of 2023.

History

The inception of Renault Sport dates back to late 1976 when Renault shut down the Alpine competition division located in Dieppe and merged its motorsport efforts with Gordini's factory at Viry-Châtillon,[3][4][5][6] situated near Paris. While Alpine focused on race car chassis development and Gordini specialized in engine design, internal conflicts prompted Renault to consolidate both operations at a single site to enhance coordination.[1] The entity concentrated chiefly on Formula One projects alongside other racing disciplines.

In 2002, the Viry-Châtillon plant transitioned into the engine department supporting the Renault F1 team, whereas Renault Sport shifted to Les Ulis and was rebranded as Renault Sport Technologies (RST).[7]

On 3 February 2016, Renault reorganized its motorsport and performance sectors: Formula One activities combined with RST’s motorsport division to establish Renault Sport Racing, while RST’s road car operations became Renault Sport Cars based at Les Ulis.[8]

By January 2021, Alpine consolidated both Renault Sport Racing and Renault Sport Cars under a single corporate structure.[9] The Renault Sport badge is gradually being retired; its last model, the Megane Renault Sport Ultime—a version of the fourth-generation Megane—was introduced in early 2023 and production ceased later that year.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Rallying

Renault vehicles tuned by Gordini achieved notable success in rally competitions during the 1950s and 1960s. Alpine, operating as a Renault subsidiary, secured victory in the first-ever World Rally Championship (WRC) held in 1973. Throughout subsequent years, Renault competed strongly in WRC events with cars such as the R5 Turbo and R17 Gordini, continuing until its withdrawal from international rallying in 1994. Nevertheless, it maintained participation in national rallies and promotional contests.

The manufacturer claimed the European Rally Championship title on three occasions—in 1999, 2004, and 2005. On 21 February 2013, Renault Sport Technologies announced its official re-engagement with international rallying through the European Rally Championship.

Summary of Renault's WRC Performance

Season Wins WMC Ranking Points
1974† United States Press-on-Regardless Rally: Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Jean-Luc Thérier (Renault 17 Gordini) 10th 23
1975† - 15th 8
1976 - 14th 6
1977 - 11th 18
1978 - 9th 33
1979 - 7th 41
1980 - 13th 12
1981 Template:Country data MONTemplate:Namespace detect showall Monte Carlo Rally: Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Jean Ragnotti (Renault 5 Turbo) 7th 61
1982 Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Tour de Corse: Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Jean Ragnotti (Renault 5 Turbo) 6th 34
1983 - 5th 27
1984 - 5th 55
1985 ' Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Tour de Corse:' Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Jean Ragnotti (Renault R5 Maxi Turbo) '6th '38
' Template:Country data PORTemplate:Namespace detect showall Rally of Portugal: Template:Country data PORTemplate:Namespace detect showall Joaquim Moutinho (Renault 5 Turbo) '7th '14
' - 3rd 71
' - '6th '32
' Template:Country data Côte d'IvoireTemplate:Namespace detect showall Rallye Côte d'Ivoire: Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Alain Oreille (Renault 5 GT Turbo) '7th '30
' - '6th '24
' - '9th '4
' - '8th '9
' - ' - ' -

† Competed without direct support from Renault Sport.

JWRC

Year Team Vehicle No Competitor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 JWRC Position Points
2003 Renault Sport Renault Clio S1600 61 Brice Tirabassi MON
1 		TUR
Ret 		GRE
1 		FIN
2 		ITA
Ret 		ESP
1 		GBR
Ret 		1st 38
2004 Renault Sport Renault Clio S1600 39 Nicolas Bernardi MON
1 		GRE
2 		TUR
Ret 		FIN
3 		GBR
Ret 		ITA
6 		ESP
1 		2nd 37
51 Larry Cols MON
5 		GRE
4 		TUR
Ret 		FIN
6 		GBR
Ret 		ITA
4 		ESP
5 		6th 21
2006 Renault Sport Renault Clio S1600 41 Patrik Sandell SWE
2</ small > 		ESP FRA ARG < br /> < small >2 </ small > ITA < br /> < small >1 </ small > GER FIN < br /> < small >7 </ small > TUR < br /> < small >11 </ small > GBR < br /> < small >6 </ small > 1st 32
51 Fatih Kara SWE ESP < br /> < small >7 </ small > FRA < br /> < small >6 </ small > ARG ITA < br /> < small >Ret </ small > GER < br /> < small >7 </ small > FIN TUR < br /> < small >9 </ small > GBR < br /> < small >Ret </ small > 16th 7
52 Bernd Casier SWE ESP < br /> < small >2 </ small > FRA < br /> < small >10 </ small > ARG ITA < br /> < small >Ret </ small > GER < br /> < small >2 </ small > FIN TUR < br /> < small >8 </ small > GBR < br /> < small >Ret </ small > 11th 17


Off-roading

The Marreau brothers achieved a notable second-place finish in the cars division of the Rally Dakar in 1979, piloting a 4L 4x4 modified by Sinpar. Their success culminated in victory at the 1982 rally driving a Renault 20 Turbo 4x4, backed by Renault Sport. Subsequently, Renault Sport supported and powered the Schlesser-Renault Elf buggies, which claimed wins in both the 1999 and 2000 editions. Remarkably, the 1999 winning vehicle was the first two-wheel drive car to secure a Dakar Rally title.

Formula E

Renault was among the pioneers entering the Formula E (FE) series. During the inaugural 2014–15 campaign, Renault Sport acted as a technical collaborator and held title sponsorship of the e.dams outfit, which captured the first FE teams' championship. The introduction of regulations permitting powertrain development in 2015–16 saw Renault supply its Renault ZE 15 powertrain to e.dams. For the following season (2016–17), Renault expanded its powertrain clientele by partnering with Chinese squad Techeetah. In October 2017, Renault Sport Racing declared its intention to exit Formula E after the conclusion of the 2017–18 season.

Renault Sport Powertrain Supply Results

(key) (bold denotes pole position, italics indicates fastest lap)

Season Entrant Chassis Powertrain Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points TC
2015–16 Renault e.dams Spark Renault ZE 15 Template:Michelin BEI PUT PDE BNA MEX LBH PAR BER LON 270 1st
Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Nicolas Prost Retired 10th 5th 5th 3rd 11th 4th 4th 1st 1st
Template:Country data CHETemplate:Namespace detect showall Sébastien Buemi 1st Retired 1st 2nd 2nd 16th 3rd 1st 5th Retired
Season Entrant Chassis Powertrain Tyres Drivers Results Points TC
Renault Sport’s powertrains enabled Renault e.dams to clinch back-to-back team titles in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons. Driver Sébastien Buemi played a crucial role with numerous victories and pole positions, significantly driving championship outcomes. The collaboration with DAMS and utilization of Michelin tyres bolstered their competitive edge. Meanwhile, Techeetah, also equipped with Renault power units, secured second place in the teams' rankings during the 2017–18 season, underscoring Renault’s ongoing influence within Formula E’s dynamic landscape.
Season Entrant Chassis Powertrain Tyres Drivers Points TC


Formula One

Renault Sport oversaw Renault's involvement in Formula One between 1977 and 1986, and again from 1989 through 1997. The entity known as Renault Sport F1, created in late 2010 and active until 2015, functioned with a degree of autonomy from its Viry-Châtillon facility. In 2016, this F1 division was integrated into Renault Sport Racing. By September 2020, Renault declared its intention to rebrand the Formula One team as Alpine, aiming to strengthen the visibility of the Alpine brand.

Formula Two

Alpine was responsible for designing chassis and preparing engines for Formula Two (F2) competitions. In 1973, Renault-Gordini (which later became Renault Sport) introduced the two-litre V6 CH engine, a development that later influenced power units used in Le Mans and Formula One. Drivers Jean-Pierre Jabouille and René Arnoux clinched the European Formula Two Championship titles in 1976 and 1977, respectively, piloting cars powered by Renault engines.

Performance of Renault Sport as an engine supplier

1976

(key) (Pole positions are shown in bold; fastest laps are indicated by italics)

Entrant Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Driver's Championship Points
Écurie Renault Elf Martini MK16/MK19 Renault-Gordini CH1 Template:Country data West GermanyTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data UKTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data AUTTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data West GermanyTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data PORTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data West GermanyTemplate:Namespace detect showall
Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Patrick Tambay 3rd 3rd 2nd 3rd Retired 3rd Retired 3rd Retired Retired 1st Retired 3rd place overall 39 points total
Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall René Arnoux 2nd place 7th place Retired 4th place Winner (1st) 5th place 10th place 2nd place Winner (1st) 1st Retired 3rd place Finished as runner-up (2nd) Accumulated 52 points
1977

(key) (Pole positions are shown in bold; fastest laps are indicated by italics)

Entrant Chassis Engine Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Driver's Championship Points
Écurie Renault Elf Martini MK22 Renault-Gordini CH1 Template:Country data UKTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data UKTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data West GermanyTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data West GermanyTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data ITATemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data PORTemplate:Namespace detect showall Template:Country data UKTemplate:Namespace detect showall

|- align=left |Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall René Arnoux 

|style= background:#FFFFBF; | Winner (1st) 
| Retired 
| Second place 
| Fourth place 
| Retired 
| Winner (1st) 
| Sixteenth place 
| Retired 
| Winner (1st) 
| Retired 
| Winner (1st) 
| Second place 
| Sixth place 
| Champion (1st) 
|52 points

|- align=left |Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Didier Pironi 

| Retired 
| Retired 
| Retired 
| Fourth place 
| Second place 
| Second place 
| Retired 
| Third place 
| Retired 
| Fourth place 
| Fifth place 
| Winner (1st) 
| Third place 
| Third overall (3rd) 
|38 points

|}

align=left |Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall Michel Leclère align=left |Template:Country data West GermanyTemplate:Namespace detect showall Klaus Ludwig align=left |Template:Country data FRATemplate:Namespace detect showall José Dolhem align=left {{flagicon ITA}} Vittorio Brambilla align=left {{flagicon POR}} Mário Silva
Kauhsen (Willy Kauhsen Renault Elf Racing Team) Kauhsen (Elf 2J) Driver 1 !2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !7 !8 !9 !10 !11 !12 !13 ! Points
Retired | Retired | Did Not Start | Retired | Retired | Did Not Start | Did Not Qualify | Fifteenth Place | — | Did Not Qualify | Tenth Place | — |0 points
Retired | Retired | Eighth Place | Disqualified | Seventh Place | — | — | — | —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  —  — 0 points

Note: During this season, Scuderia Everest also entered cars powered by Renault engines; however, these engines were not supplied by Renault Sport.

Formula Three

Since the 1960s, various Formula Three (F3) championships have featured Renault engines tuned by Gordini and Alpine. Following Renault's partial acquisition of Alpine in 1973, the company also developed vehicles specifically for this racing class. In 1979, Alain Prost clinched the FIA European Formula Three Championship powered by a Renault engine prepared by Oreca. The final triumph for a Renault-powered car prior to the brand's exit from F3 in 2003 occurred at the 2003 Macau Grand Prix, where a Signature Team Dallara equipped with a Sodemo-modified engine secured victory, driven by Nicolas Lapierre.

Renault Sport Technologies intended to re-enter F3 as an engine supplier in the 2014 FIA European Formula Three Championship, collaborating with Oreca for engine tuning. Nevertheless, this plan was indefinitely suspended due to the Oreca-tuned power units being underpowered relative to competing engines.

Sportscars

During the 1970s, Renault Sport managed the brand’s participation in sports car racing, highlighted by their triumph at the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Renault Alpine A442.

Touring cars

Capitalizing on the emergence of Super Touring regulations in the early 1990s, Renault joined the British Touring Car Championship in 1993, enlisting reigning champion Tim Harvey alongside Alain Menu. Their initial campaign featured the Renault 19, developed under test driver Jean Ragnotti, which quickly achieved success as both drivers secured wins during its debut season. The Renault 19 was succeeded by the more competitive Renault Laguna in 1994, which enjoyed sustained success throughout its competition years. The highlight came in 1997 when Alain Menu dominated with 12 victories on his way to claiming the championship title.

Hillclimbing

In 2011, a specially prepared Dacia Duster, developed collaboratively by Renault Sport Technologies, Sodemo, and Tork Engineering, powered by a Nissan GT-R engine, competed in the renowned Pike's Peak hillclimbing event.

Car manufacturing

The Alpine brand was discontinued by Renault in 1994; thereafter, sport models produced at the Dieppe facility were marketed under the Renault Sport badge, starting with the launch of the Renault Sport Spider in 1996. Production of Renault Sport vehicles aimed at mainstream consumers at Dieppe concluded in 2018. Additionally, Renault Sport models are manufactured at Renault Spain’s Palencia plant, including prominent models like the Mégane Renault Sport.

Former models

Divisions

The design and manufacturing of Gordini-branded sports cars fall under Renault Sport’s jurisdiction. Additionally, its Renault Tech division specializes in customizing vehicles for specific applications such as accessibility adaptations, driver training programs, and corporate fleets.

Sites

  • Les Ulis (development and management of automobiles)
  • Viry-Châtillon (development of racing vehicles and marketing)

Activities

  • Producer of exclusive sports and specialized vehicle models
  • Participant in motorsport competitions such as rallying and single-make series
  • Organizer and sponsor of national and global Formula Renault racing championships
  • Coordinator of the Renault Sport Series track events
  • Former stakeholder in SMA Engines, an aircraft engine manufacturer collaborating with RST, EADS, and SAFRAN

Championships

Renault Sport oversees several national and international single-make racing championships:

International

Various Renault branches maintain their own Renault Sport divisions, including Renault UK, Renault Argentina, Renault Spain, and Renault Italy.

Renault in motorsport

In addition to Renault Sport's activities, Renault competes across multiple racing platforms:

  • The Renault Clio takes part in the French Super Production Championship, Belgian Procar Championship, BTCC—notably with the Renault Laguna Williams—and Endurance Touring Car Series.
  • The Renault Mégane and Renault Fluence have raced in Argentina’s TC2000 championship (1984–2011), managed by Renault Sport Argentina.
  • The Renault Spider was active in the Spanish GT Championship around 1999–2000.
  • The Renault 8 Gordini competed in the Springbok Series from 1966 to 1971.
  • The Renault 4CV participated in the 24 hours of Le Mans events between 1949 and 1954.
  • The Renault Alpine A110 achieved a clean sweep at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1971 and 1973, capturing the World Rally Championship title in 1973 with engines based on the Renault 16.

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RS
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named endera
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RS4
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RS1
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RS2
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RS3
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RST
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RELAUNCH
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ALPBU
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