Alpine: Return at the highest level

F1 TEAM WITH ALONSO Instead of Renault, the Alpine F1 Team will be rolling up to the starting grid in 2021 with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. And the Alpine Endurance Team will compete in the top class of the World Endurance Championship. Alpine is thus underlining its ambitions as the sports car brand of the Renault Group and building on the brand's successful motorsport history. It originally celebrated [...]

Editorial - October 8, 2020

Renault and Alpine are not revealing much yet. The colors emphasize the French nationality.

Alpine is thus underlining its ambitions as the sports car brand of the Renault Group and building on the brand's successful motorsport history. Originally, it celebrated its greatest successes in rallying, winning the 1971 International Rally Championship and the 1973 World Rally Championship.

In French national colors
Alpine was also active in endurance racing, achieved victories in formula racing and supported Renault in the early years of its Formula 1 involvement. More than 40 years later, Alpine is now regrouping in two motorsport classes.

The Renault Formula 1 works team will start next season as the Alpine F1 Team in the colors of the French tricolor. The new Formula 1 car will be painted red, white and blue. Two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso from Spain and Frenchman Esteban Ocon will take the wheel as drivers.

Fernando Alonso paid an extended visit to the Renault F1 Team in Viry-Chatillon near Paris in September (Photos: Germain Hazard / DPPI).

Entry into the LM king class
In addition, Alpine will roll up to the starting line in the LMP1 class of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) next season under the name Alpine Endurance Team. In recent years, Signatech-Alpine has been a successful presence in the LMP2 category, winning the LMP2 classification three times at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

For the new commitment, Alpine will field an Alpine LMP1 prototype based on an Oreca chassis and a Gibson engine. The Alpine Endurance Team will unveil the LMP1 prototype and driver lineup in the coming months at the start of its test program.

The Renault DP World F1 Team will become the Alpine F1 Team in 2021. This will also mean the disappearance of the typical Renault sports colors.

Good conditions for the future
For the Managing Director of Alpine, motorsport is inextricably linked with his brand. And after eight successful years in LMP2, it was time for the next step.

Patrick Marinoff: "The recent changes to the regulations for 2021 will enable the brand to showcase its technical expertise and racing experience in a competitive and fair environment in the coming season. By taking various measures to control costs, we can ensure this with a manageable investment. Together with partner Signatech, we want to write a new chapter in Alpine's history and compete with the French colors at the highest level of motorsport."