Alpine Renault at Montlhéry-Linas - Coupes de Printemps 2015

The undoubted stars of the 2015 Coupes de Printemps at Montlhéry were the Alpine Renaults.  Although the three that were brought along were just out of period to have raced at the Autodrome in its heyday (which was until 1971), they were very welcome visitors.   Two of them made a short run on their own just after lunch and then had another run with one of the plateau later in the afternoon.  Their racing engines made a splendid sound and helped make a cold, damp spring day rather pleasant.   Thanks to Chapal for bringing them along.   Amongst the drivers was none other than ex-F1 driver Paul Belmondo.  Also attending and driving was the son of the Alpine Renault founder, Jean-Charles Redelè.

Renault Gordini engini in the back of the ex-Beaumont/Lombardi car

It was appropriate that Alpine Renault were at Montlhéry this year as they are celebrating their sixitieth birthday as a marque.  The most successful years for these sports racing cars were the seventies.  The marque had originally mounted an attack on Le Mans in the 1960s culminating with 8th place in 1968 with the A220.

After a successful interlude in rallying with the A110 including victory in the Monte Carlo, the attack on Le Mans resumed in the seventies.  For 1973 this 2 litre prototype the A440 was built.  This evolved into the A441 and then finally the turbo charged A442B which won Le Mans in 1978.

I didn't see this car run but it was a pretty addition to the paddock. It is an Alpine Renault A440 V6 from about 1973.  It normally sits in a museum.

At Montlhéry the record of the Alpine Renaults in the Paris 1,000 kms was as follows:

1964 -16th overall and 1st in the 1.15 litre class.
1966 - 4th overall
1967 - 7th overall and with another car 1st in the 1.3 litre sports class
1968 - 4th overall

However, none of these type cars were to be seen today.

Pushing the Alpine Renaults down the pit lane at Montlhéry to the start.

Starting the engine of the ex-Alain Serpaggi Alpine Renault A441 which won the European 2 litre Sports car championship in 1974

The A441 was a very successful 2 litre V6 sports car.

The ex-Beaumont/Lombardi Alpine Renault A441-3 leaving the pits at Montlhéry

Marie-Claude Beaumont and Leila Lombardi were successful sports car racing ladies.  1n 1975 they raced together in the 2 litre class in the World Manufacturers championship for Alpine Renault. Although they had an old A441-3 they were very competitive.

They finished 6th overall at Mugello and 2nd in the 2 litre Sports class.
The finished 4th overall at Monza and 1st in the 2 litre Sports class.
They were fastest in qualifying for the 2 litre class at Le Mans but run out of fuel in the race.

Great to see this car out on the circuit today.

Alpine A441-3 on the Montlhéry banking and almost the only bit of blue sky we saw all day!

Alpine Renault A441-3 entering the chicane before the banking

Alpine Renault A441-3 entering the Montlhéry pits

Alpine Renault A441-3 about to swallow up a Mini!

Montlhéry's huge high banking dwarfs the ex-Alain Serpaggi Alpine Renault A441

Alain Serpaggi played a key part in the Alpine Renault story by winning the 1974 European 2 litre Sports Car Championship for Alpine Renault in the A441.  This was a car that completely dominated the season taking 9 wins from 9 starts.  Serpaggi won at the Hockenheim championship round.  A very special car and thus really nice to see it at Montlhéry today.

Ex-Alain Serpaggi Alpine Renault A441 takes the chicane before the Montlhéry banking. 

Alpine Renault A441 overtakes an M.G. Midget at Montlhéry

Alpine Renault A441 passes the Montlhéry stands

Alpine Renault A441 at Montlhéry

Alpine Renault A441 on the Montlhéry banking

As well as these Alpine Renault racing sports cars on the circuit there was a very nicely turned out Alpine Renault A110 in the car park and paddock.

Alpine Renault A110 - Montlhéry 2015 Coupes de Printemps

The photographer, John Etherton, asserts his copyright to the photos on this blog.  However, you may republish them elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer and this blog, Rouen-les-AFX@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.


I'll be publishing another post on this meeting at Montlhéry soon.

To see pictures of a Renault F1 car on the Montlhéry banking and pictures of real racing here back in 2002 click here.