Renault 5 Sport
Tijuana Strauhal
Renault Sport (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-smallfont-size:85%.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-smallfont-size:100%French pronunciation: [ʁəno spɔʁ]) or Renaultsport, was a motorsport, performance and special vehicles division for Renault-badged cars and later a sub-badge of Renault cars managed by Alpine. The first Renault Sport was officially established as a company in 1976 as a merger between the Alpine and Gordini competition departments.[4] It was made a division and reorganised in 2002 and 2016. In December 2021, all Renault Sport operations were merged into an Alpine-led business unit.[3] The Renault Sport car range under Alpine was completely phased out by the end of 2023.
Renault Sport was created at the end of 1976, when Renault closed down the Alpine competition department (at that time, its main motorsport division), located at Dieppe, and moved all the racing activities to the Gordini factory at Viry-Chtillon,[5][6] just outside Paris.[6][7][8] The Dieppe-based Alpine department specialised in the construction of race car chassis while the Viry-Chtillon-based Gordini focussed on engines. However, several conflicts emerged between them, and Renault took the decision to unify both departments into a single location in order to achieve a greater integration and harmony.[4] The company concentrated principally on developing a car for Formula One, although it also participated in other series.
On 3 February 2016, Renault announced a reorganisation of its racing and performance activities. The Formula One operation and RST's former motorsport branch were put under the new Renault Sport Racing division. RST's former roadcar branch at Les Ulis became the Renault Sport Cars division.[10]
In January 2021, the Alpine company announced it would absorb both Renault Sport Racing and Renault Sport Cars to form an Alpine business unit.[11] The Renault Sport range, under Alpine, is slowly being phased out. The final new Renault Sport-badged car, the Megane Renault Sport Ultime (a variant of the fourth-generation Megane model) introduced in early 2023, was set to cease production in late 2023.[12]
Gordini-tuned Renault cars won many rallies during the 1950s and 1960s, and Alpine, being a subsidiary of Renault, won the first World Rally Championship (WRC) in 1973. In the WRC, Renault had some success with cars such as the R5 Turbo and the R17 Gordini until it left international rallying in late 1994[13] (although it continued competing in national and promotional rally series).
In 1979, the Marreau brothers finished in second place in the cars category at the Rally Dakar driving a Sinpar-prepared 4L 4x4. They won the 1982 edition with a Renault Sport backed Renault 20 Turbo 4x4.[17] Later, Renault Sport powered and sponsored the Schlesser-Renault Elf buggies which won the 1999[18] and 2000 editions.[19] The 1999 car was the first two-wheel drive Dakar winner.[20]
From 1977 to 1986 and again between 1989 and 1997, Renault Sport was in charge of Renault's Formula One programme.[27] Renault Sport F1, created at the end of 2010 and active until 2015, was a subsequent incarnation of Renault's involvement in Formula One and was headquartered in Viry-Chtillon, which functioned as a semi-independent operation.[28][29][30] In 2016, the Formula One operation became part of Renault Sport Racing.[10] In September 2020, the Renault company said it would repurpose the F1 team to promote Alpine.[31]
Alpine constructed various chassis and prepared engines for Formula Two (F2). In 1973, Renault-Gordini (later Renault Sport) introduced a two-litre V6 engine for F2, the CH, which was the basis of its future Le Mans and F1 engines.[32] Jean-Pierre Jabouille and Ren Arnoux won the 1976 and 1977 European Formula Two Championships with Renault-powered cars.[33]
Gordini and Alpine-tuned Renault engines were used in various Formula Three (F3) series since the 1960s. Alpine (a partially owned subsidiary of Renault since 1973) also developed cars for the category.[32] In 1979, Alain Prost won the FIA European Formula Three Championship with a Renault engine prepared by Oreca. The last victory of a Renault engine before its withdrawal from the formula at the end of 2003 was in the 2003 Macau Grand Prix with a Sodemo-tuned unit from a Signature Team's Dallara car driven by Nicolas Lapierre.[34][35]
Renault Sport Technologies announced its return to F3 as an engine supplier with Oreca again as engine tuner for the 2014 FIA European Formula Three Championship.[36] However, this was indefinitely halted because of the lack of power of the Oreca-tuned engine compared to rivals.[37]
Capitalising on the growing reputation and success of the Super Touring regulations introduced in the early 1990s, Renault made the decision to enter the British Touring Car Championship in 1993 with reigning champion Tim Harvey and Alain Menu signed as their drivers.[39] Renault's first BTCC effort was based on the Renault 19 chassis, initially developed by test driver Jean Ragnotti. Success was almost immediate as Harvey and Menu scored a win each in 1993, before the 19 was replaced with the new Renault Laguna for 1994. The Laguna lent itself as a more competitive proposition than its predecessor and went on to be a highly successful car throughout its racing life, the highlight being in 1997 when Alain Menu took 12 victories on his way to the championship.[40]
In 1994, Renault discontinued the Alpine marque, badging since then its sport cars manufactured at the Dieppe factory as Renault Sport, beginning with the Renault Sport Spider in 1996.[42] The production of Renault Sport cars for the mainstream markets at Dieppe ended in 2018. Renault Sport models are also produced at Renault Spain's Palencia factory (Mgane Renault Sport).[43]
Renault Sport is in charge of the conception and manufacturing of the Gordini-badged sport cars[48] and also of modifying cars and vans for special purposes (transporting people with reduced mobility, driving school cars, business fleets) through its division Renault Tech.[49][50]
We seek to rise to sporting challenges and are committed to developing automotive technologies. Renault and motorsport, over 120 years of innovation. A history marked with iconic cars, driving legends, technology and historic victories... An adventure crowned with unrivalled success.
As an engine manufacturer, we continuously strive to go the distance in terms of the excellence, performance and prestige associated with Formula 1. Our goal is to ensure that the Alpine F1 Team engine continues to rely on our Renault E-TECH hybrid technology developed from our expertise in electric and motorsport.
Welcome to the official Renault Sport Performance shop dedicated to enthusiasts of driving and the R.S. spirit, the quintessence of top-level motorsport technology used in production cars. A know-how acquired on Formula 1 tracks and rally roads over decades and now available on our online shop. You will find products developed to increase the driving precision, power and efficiency of your Renault Sport vehicle tenfold. The RS spirit is there...
Go further in the trackday spirit with the Clio R.S. Performance bodykit inspired by the legendary Clio R.S. 16 concept for all Clio R.S. IV & IV Trophy owners who want to increase their vehicle's sporty performance tenfold.
Be part of your car and demand a level of safety and performance from the world of competition. Four-point harnesses, carbon bucket seats... all the products to transform your cabin into a real cockpit dedicated to Track Days.
Enhance the aggressive and exclusive look of your car with our range of bodywork products. Rear diffusers, body kits, carbon-plated hoods, competition wheels, everything to reinforce the R.S. identity and the performance of your R.S. vehicle.
Let the sporting and sound potential of your R.S. be fully expressed with products designed for the most demanding pilots. Dump valves, silicone hose kits, high-performance exchangers... everything to fully exploit the dynamic qualities of your chassis.
For enthusiasts of driving, agility in tight turns and stability in fast curves are the keys. Discover the high-performance suspension kits and R.S. track wideners that will allow you to improve both cornering entry and corner exit traction.
The keys to the sleek new coupe were delivered to Abiteboul at the team's Whiteways Technical Center in Enstone in the UK, signifying the ever-growing collaboration between INFINITI and the Renault Sport Formula One Team within the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Established in 2016, the technical partnership between the two companies has gone from strength to strength and spans a variety of projects, including the co-development of the second generation of the Formula OneTM Power Unit's Energy Recovery System (ERS), the highly successful INFINITI Engineering Academy, and the recently announced Project Black S, which features unique-for-the-road technology inspired by Formula One.
"Our technical collaboration with the Renault Sport Formula One Team progresses very fast," said Tommaso Volpe, INFINITI Global Motorsport director. "We have established two projects to transfer technology from road to track and vice versa, benefiting both the INFINITI brand and the Renault Sport Formula One Team. In addition, the INFINITI Engineering Academy has been established as the only global recruitment program in Formula One."
Abiteboul commented: "We are thrilled and delighted with the progress of our technical partnership with INFINITI. I am very excited to receive my INFINITI Q60S. I have already driven the car, and I love the way it looks and drives. The performance of the car is extraordinary, and I really can't wait to take it out more often."
About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with representations in 50 markets around the world. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom and China. INFINITI plans to also expand manufacturing into Mexico by 2017.
INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing.