40 years ago, Alain Prost won the French GP at the wheel of the Renault RE40

Rene Arnoux gone to Ferrari, all the living forces of Renault F1 are focused on Alain Prost in this year 1983. He can count on the support of a new teammate, much more docile, in the person of Eddie Cheever. In order to fight for the title, Prost has a formidable new weapon, the RE40, built around an innovative carbon shell and powered by an evolution of the exceptional Renault Gordini EF6 1 liter V1.5 Turbo, which develops up to 750 hp in qualifying. All season, Alain Prost led an epic battle against Nelson Piquet and his Brabham-BMW BT52 at the top of the championship.

Renault RE40 © Artcurial Motorcars

The French Grand Prix was exceptionally contested that year on the Paul Ricard Circuit on April 17. The Provençal track is facing serious financial difficulties and the aim of this date shift is to avoid competition from the beaches and summer distractions specific to the month of July. Alain Prost signs his first success of the season there. He subsequently won three times, in Belgium, Great Britain and Austria. 

Renault RE40 © Artcurial Motorcars

Unfortunately for the Frenchman, the Brabham's performance increased exponentially at the end of the campaign, while the smell of the fuel propelling the English car intrigued and fueled, in addition to the BMW engine, increasingly insistent rumors of cheating. Prost ultimately failed in his conquest of the world title by two small points and left the French brand with a bang when the latter refused to file a complaint, sealing the result of the championship, and the second of Nelson Piquet's three coronations (1981, 1983 and 1987) .

Renault RE40 © Artcurial Motorcars

TECHNICAL

• Engine type: 6° V90 Turbo
• Layout: center rear
• Displacement: 1 cc
• Power 650 to 750 hp
• Gearbox: Hewland 5-speed manual
• Front/Rear tracks: 1740/1630 mm
• Wheelbase: 2730 mm
• Weight: 545kg
• Maximum speed: +320 km/h

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