Renault Sport, the end of an era

The press release issued by the Group Renault this Monday, May 10 is not very long considering the scope of the announcement. Two short paragraphs, as many laconic speakers and presto! Renault Sport disappears.

A clever magic trick which is explained by “a new dynamic”, that is to say a “reorganization of Renault Group by brand”. Alpine now being the sporting spearhead of the French manufacturer, the Renault Sport Cars entity has become Alpine Cars since May 1st.

From yellow and black to blue, white, red – the know-how and automotive passion that drives Renault Sport Cars continues as the entity becomes Alpine Cars. pic.twitter.com/AsoJehNaaH

— Renault Sport FR (@RenaultSportFR) May 10, 2021

In other words, sports vehicles badged with the Diamond are over! The Renault Mégane RS as well as the Clio RS will not be replaced. If fans of the century-old brand are looking for sportiness, passion and thrills, they will now be asked to head towards the vehicles Alpine.

This is the only consolation: the know-how of mechanics and engineers factories in Ulis (Essonne) is preserved, under the label Alpine. The teams will also continue to provide customer service to the Renault Network and Renault RS owners.

Robert Bonetto, Director of Product Performance and EngineeringAlpine is intended to be positive. " By becoming Alpine Because, the teams are embarking on a new dynamic, rich in projects carried out with the help of the teams ofAlpine Racing and all Renault Group professions. This is an extremely exciting time for our engineers. »

Laurent Red, the CEO ofAlpine, recalls that“it is essential that the different entities that make up the Business Unit each bear the name ofAlpine and embody the values ​​and ambitions of the brand. Alpine aims to be a premium sports brand at the forefront of innovation and technology. Alpine Cars, through its expertise and experience in sports vehicles, is a trump card in achieving our objectives. »

In this speech, we will retain the notion of “premium sports brand”. Not sure that men and women owning a Renault Sport or RS appreciate this positioning, when we know that certain models were deliberately aimed at less fortunate enthusiasts!

The story of Renault Sport ends with the Renault Mégane RS Trophy-R and its records set on three prestigious tracks (Nordschleife, Spa-Francorchamps, Suzuka). Renault Sport was also two extravagant models, which have become legendary in the history of the French automobile. The R5 Turbo in the 1980s, then the fanciful mid-rear engine Clio V6 in the early 2000s.