Renault Sport, or Renaultsport, was Renault’s motorsport, performance and special vehicles division 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 of the Alpine and Gordini competition departments.
Renault Sport at a glance
| Founded | end of 1976 |
|---|---|
| Formed from | Alpine and Gordini competition departments |
| Base | Viry-Châtillon, near Paris |
| Reorganised | as a division in 2002 and 2016 |
| Merged into Alpine | December 2021 |
| Range phased out | by the end of 2023 |
| Known for | Formula One engines and Renault Sport road cars |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on Renault Sport.
History of the Renault Sport
The merger
Renault Sport was created at the end of 1976, when Renault closed down the Alpine competition department at Dieppe, then its main motorsport division, and moved all racing activities to the Gordini factory at Viry-Châtillon, just outside Paris. The Dieppe-based Alpine department specialised in building race car chassis while Gordini at Viry-Châtillon concentrated on engines. Several conflicts emerged between the two, and Renault decided to unify them in one place for greater integration and harmony.
A changing role
The organisation was made a division and reorganised in 2002 and 2016. Alongside its racing work it produced performance versions of Renault road cars, which carried Renault Sport badges and names in many markets.
Into Alpine
In December 2021 all Renault Sport operations were merged into an Alpine-led business unit, and the Renault Sport car range under Alpine was completely phased out by the end of 2023.
Design and features
- 1976 merger: the union of Alpine’s chassis department and Gordini’s engine department.
- Viry-Châtillon base: the Paris factory that became Renault’s racing centre.
- Road and race: Formula One engines alongside performance road cars.
- Alpine era: the division absorbed into Alpine from December 2021.
Renault Sport versions
- Renault Sport (1976): the original merged competition company.
- Renault Sport division (2002, 2016): reorganised performance arm.
- Alpine-led unit (2021): the final structure.
Renault Sport grew out of Gordini, and its road cars include the Renault Sport Spider and its one-make series the Renault Sport Trophy. More Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Video: Renault Megane R.S. 275 Trophy-R Nurburgring lap record
Video by Renault Clio Series on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault Sport, English Wikipedia: origins, reorganisation, Alpine merger
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