Renault Sport () or Renaultsport, was a
motorsport
Motorsport or motor sport are sporting events, competitions and related activities that primarily involve the use of Car, automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats and Aircraft, powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific term ...
, performance and special vehicles division for
Renault
Renault S.A., commonly referred to as Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English), is a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company curr ...
-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
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are business transactions in which the ownership of a company, business organization, or one of their operating units is transferred to or consolidated with another entity. They may happen through direct absorpt ...
between the Alpine and
Gordini
Gordini () is a division of Renault Sport Technologies (Renault Sport). In the past, it was a sports car manufacturer and Car tuning, performance tuner, established in 1946 by Amédée Gordini (1899–1979), nicknamed "Le Sorcier" (The Sorcerer) ...
competition departments.
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.
[ The Renault Sport car range under Alpine was completely phased out by the end of 2023.
]
History
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
Dieppe (; ; or Old Norse ) is a coastal commune in the Seine-Maritime department, Normandy, northern France.
Dieppe is a seaport on the English Channel at the mouth of the river Arques. A regular ferry service runs to Newhaven in England ...
, and moved all the racing activities to the Gordini factory at Viry-Châtillon, just outside Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
. The Dieppe-based Alpine department specialised in the construction of race car chassis while the Viry-Châtillon-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.[ The company concentrated principally on developing a car for Formula One, although it also participated in other series.
In 2002, the Viry-Châtillon factory became the engine department of the Renault F1 team and Renault Sport was moved to ]Les Ulis
Les Ulis () is a Communes of France, commune in the Essonne Departments of France, department, from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris, France. A planned community, it comprises outer suburbs (banlieues) built in the 1970s on the southwestern ...
and renamed Renault Sport Technologies (RST).
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.
In January 2021, the Alpine company announced it would absorb both Renault Sport Racing and Renault Sport Cars to form an Alpine business unit. 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.
Rallying
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
The World Rally Championship (abbreviated as WRC) is an international rallying series owned and governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA. Inaugurated in 1973, it is the oldest FIA world championship after Formula One. E ...
(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 (although it continued competing in national and promotional rally series).
The European Rally Championship
The European Rally Championship (officially FIA European Rally Championship) is an rallying, automobile rally competition held annually on the European continent and organized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
The champion ...
was won three times by a Renault car (1999, 2004, 2005).
On 21 February 2013, Renault Sport Technologies announced its official return to international rallying in the European Rally Championship.
Renault's WRC summary
† Without Renault Sport assistance.
JWRC
Off-roading
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
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...
4x4. Later, Renault Sport powered and sponsored the Schlesser-Renault Elf
An elf (: elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic peoples, Germanic folklore. Elves appear especially in Norse mythology, North Germanic mythology, being mentioned in the Icelandic ''Poetic Edda'' and the ''Prose Edda'' ...
buggies which won the 1999 and 2000 editions. The 1999 car was the first two-wheel drive
Two-wheel-drive (2WD) denotes vehicles with a drivetrain that allows two wheels to be driven, and receive power and torque from the engine, simultaneously.
Four-wheeled vehicles
For four-wheeled vehicles (and by extension, vehicles with six, ...
Dakar winner.
Formula E
Renault was one of the first car manufacturers involved in the Formula E
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is an open-wheel single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The racing series is the highest class of competition for electrically powered single-seater racing cars ...
(FE) championship. For the inaugural season, Renault Sport became a technical partner of the series, also agreeing a title sponsorship deal with the e.dams team which achieved the first FE teams' championship.[ Before the 2015–16 season, following the introduction of new rules allowing the development of the electric powertrains used in the FE's Spark chassis, Renault announced it would entry as a supplier for e.dams.][ The new powertrain manufactured by Renault Sport was named Renault ZE 15. For the 2016–17 season, Renault added the Chinese team Techeetah as a powertrain client. In October 2017, Renault Sport Racing announced it would withdraw from FE at the end of the 2017–18 season.
]
Results of Renault Sport as a powertrain supplier
( key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
Formula One
From 1977 to 1986 and again between 1989 and 1997, Renault Sport was in charge of Renault's Formula One programme. 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-Châtillon, which functioned as a semi-independent operation. In 2016, the Formula One operation became part of Renault Sport Racing.[ In September 2020, the Renault company said it would repurpose the F1 team to promote Alpine.
]
Formula Two
Alpine constructed various chassis and prepared engines for Formula Two
Formula Two (F2) is a type of Open-wheel car, open-wheel formula racing category first codified in 1948. It was replaced in 1985 by Formula 3000, but revived by the FIA from 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season, 2009 to 2012 FIA Formula Two C ...
(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. Jean-Pierre Jabouille and René Arnoux
René Alexandre Arnoux (; born 4 July 1948) is a French former racing driver, who competed in Formula One from to . Arnoux won seven Formula One Grands Prix across 12 seasons.
In 1977, Arnoux won the European Formula Two Championship. His be ...
won the 1976 and 1977 European Formula Two Championship
The European Formula Two Championship was a Formula Two motor racing series that was held between 1967–84. The races were held across Europe, and were contested both by drivers aiming to compete in Formula One in the future as well as curr ...
s with Renault-powered cars.
Results of Renault Sport as an engine supplier
=1976
=
( key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
=1977
=
( key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
Note: During this season Scuderia Everest also entered Renault-powered cars, although those were not supplied by Renault Sport.
Formula Three
Gordini and Alpine-tuned Renault engines were used in various Formula Three
Formula Three (F3) is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers.
History
Formula Three (adop ...
(F3) series since the 1960s. Alpine (a partially owned subsidiary of Renault since 1973) also developed cars for the category.[ In 1979, ]Alain Prost
Alain Marie Pascal Prost (; born 24 February 1955) is a French former racing driver and motorsport executive, who competed in Formula One from to . Nicknamed "the Professor", Prost won four Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles and� ...
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
Signatech, currently competing as the Alpine Endurance Team, is a French auto racing team and racing car constructor that competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Signatech has been a long-term partner for Automobiles Alpine, Alpine since ...
's Dallara
Dallara Group S.r.l. is the largest multi-national Italian race car manufacturer, founded by its current President, Giampaolo Dallara. After working for Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and De Tomaso, in 1972 in his native village of Varano de' M ...
car driven by Nicolas Lapierre.
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. However, this was indefinitely halted because of the lack of power of the Oreca-tuned engine compared to rivals.
Sportscars
Renault Sport was responsible for Renault's sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of motorsport road racing that uses sports cars with two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be either purpose-built Sports prototype, sports prototypes, which are the highest level in sports car racing; or grand to ...
entries during the 1970s, including their win at the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 46th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 10 and 11 June 1978. In many ways it was a continuation of the race from the year before – the two main protagonists would be the very evenly-matched works tea ...
race with the Renault Alpine A442.
Touring cars
Capitalising on the growing reputation and success of the Super Touring
Super Touring, Class 2 or Class II was a auto racing, motor racing touring car category defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for national touring car racing in 1993. It was based on the "2 litre Touring Car Form ...
regulations introduced in the early 1990s, Renault made the decision to enter the British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), officially known as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for sponsorship reasons, is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organised and administered by ...
in 1993 with reigning champion Tim Harvey and Alain Menu signed as their drivers. Renault's first BTCC effort was based on the Renault 19
The Renault 19 is a small family car that was produced by the French car manufacturer Renault between 1988 and 1996. In Turkey and in Argentina, production continued until 2000. The internal development code for the 19 was X53, with the five d ...
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
The Renault Laguna is a large family car that was manufactured and marketed by Renault for 21 years in three body styles: hatchback, coupé, and estate. The first generation Laguna was launched in 1994, the second generation was introduced in 20 ...
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.
Hillclimbing
In 2011, a Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is a family of Subcompact crossover SUV, subcompact crossovers produced and marketed jointly by the France, French manufacturer Renault and its Romanian subsidiary Automobile Dacia, Dacia since 2010, currently in its third ge ...
car prepared for Renault Sport Technologies, Sodemo and Tork Engineering and fitted with a Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R (''Gran Turismo–Racing''; model code: R35; Japanese: 日産・GT-R; ''Nissan GT-R'') is a series of cars built by Japanese marque Nissan from 2007 to 2025. It has a 2+2 (car body style), 2+2 seating layout and is considered b ...
engine participated at the Pike's Peak hillclimbing
Hillclimbing, also known as hill climbing, speed hillclimbing, or speed hill climbing, is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course. It is one of the oldest forms of motorsport, since the firs ...
.
Car manufacturing
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. 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 ( Mégane Renault Sport).
Former models
* Spider
Spiders (order (biology), order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude spider silk, silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and ran ...
(1996–1999)
* Clio Renault Sport (1998–2018)
* Twingo GT (2016–2019)
* Twingo Renault Sport (2011–2013)
* Sandero RS (2015–2021; only South America)
* Clio GT/RS Line (2013–2023)
* Megane GT/RS Line (2010–2023)
* Megane Renault Sport (2004–2023)
* Arkana RS Line (2021–2023)
* Captur RS Line (2021–2023)
Divisions
Renault Sport is in charge of the conception and manufacturing of the Gordini-badged sport cars 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.
Sites
*Les Ulis (car development, management)
*Viry-Châtillon (racing car development, marketing)
Activities
*Manufacturer of limited edition sport and special purpose models
*Competitor in motorsport events, for example:
**Rallying
**Organisation of single-model vehicle championships
*Organiser or/and sponsor of the Formula Renault
Formula Renault are classes of formula racing popular in Europe and elsewhere. Regarded as an entry-level series to auto racing, motor racing, it was founded in 1971, and was a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before mov ...
national and international championships
*Organiser of the Renault Sport Series on circuits
*Former shareholder in SMA Engines; an aircraft engine manufacturer, an alliance of RST, EADS
Airbus SE ( ; ; ; ) is a Pan-European aerospace corporation. The company's primary business is the design and manufacturing of commercial aircraft but it also has separate defence and space and helicopter divisions. Airbus has long been th ...
and SAFRAN
Safran S.A. () is a French Multinational corporation, multinational aerospace, defence industry, defence and computer security, security corporation headquartered in Paris. It designs, develops and manufactures both commercial and military airc ...
Championships
Renault Sport organises several national and international one-make racing championships.
* Formula Renault
Formula Renault are classes of formula racing popular in Europe and elsewhere. Regarded as an entry-level series to auto racing, motor racing, it was founded in 1971, and was a respected series where drivers can learn advanced racecraft before mov ...
2.0L and 1.6L
* Renault Clio Cup
The Renault Clio Cup Series is a One-Design, one-make racing series created and managed by Automobiles Alpine, Alpine Racing (until 2020 known as Renault Sport). The championship was born after merging the 4 active Renault Clio national cups a ...
* Dacia Logan Cup
International
Many international subsidiaries of Renault have their own Renault Sport division, including Renault UK, Renault Argentina
Renault Argentina is the Argentine subsidiary of the French car manufacturer Renault. It is one of the oldest Renault operations in the world and is ranked consistently in first place by sales between the local automakers.
Renault Argentina was of ...
, Renault Spain and Renault Italy, among others.
Renault in motorsport
Renault is also involved in other racing series but not as Renault Sport.
*Renault Clio
The Renault Clio () is a supermini (B-segment) car, produced by French automobile manufacturer Renault. It was launched in 1990, and entered its fifth generation in 2019. The Clio has had substantial critical and commercial success, being consi ...
** French Super Production Championship
** Belgian Procar Championship
** BTCC with Renault Laguna Williams
** Endurance Touring Car Series
*Renault Mégane
The Renault Mégane (), also spelled without the acute accent as Megane, especially in languages other than French, and also known as the Renault Megavan for an LCV in Ireland, as the Renault Scala in Iran and as the Renault Mégane Grandcoup� ...
/ Renault Fluence
** TC2000 Argentina (1984–2011, currently the participation is in charge of the local Renault Sport branch).[
* Renault Spider:
** Spanish GT Championship (1999?–2000?)
* Renault 8 Gordini:
** ]Springbok Series
The South African Springbok Championship Series (known as the Shell plc, Shell Drivers Cup in 1970 and the Castrol Springbok Series in 1971) was a sports car racing series based in Southern Africa. The series ran from 1965 until 1973. The series w ...
(1966–1971)
* Renault 4CV
**24 hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans () is an endurance-focused Sports car racing, sports car race held annually near the city of Le Mans, France. It is widely considered to be one of the world's most prestigious races, and is one of the races—along with ...
(1949–1954) 24 Hours of Le Mans
''classicscars.com''
** Renault Alpine A110: In 1971 Alpine achieved a 1–2–3 finish in the Monte Carlo rally, using cars with engines derived from the Renault 16. In 1973, they repeated the 1–2–3 Monte Carlo result and went on to win the World Rally championship outright.
References
External links
V6 Clio owners club
Clio 16v owners club
Renault Sport Italia
Renaultsport Megane range site
ClioSport owners club
Clio197 owners club
{{Authority control
Companies based in Paris-Saclay
Official motorsports and performance division of automakers
24 Hours of Le Mans teams
French auto racing teams
Super GT teams
French racecar constructors
Intercontinental Rally Challenge teams
European Rally Championship teams
British Touring Car Championship teams
World Rally Championship teams
Auto tuning companies