Less than a month after the announcement of Alpine’s return to motor racing, the revitalized Renault Group brand has released the name of its first racecar in more than three decades, the all-new “Alpine A450”. The French brand says it chose the name as a tribute to the Alpines which raced at Le Mans in the 1970s.
The new 500hp, V8-powered ‘LM P2’ prototype run by Signatech-Alpine will break the ice at the Silverstone racetrack in the United Kingdom this weekend (April 13), with drivers Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues, before it takes part in the all-important Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race this summer.
“The name Alpine A450 stood out as a natural choice for this prototype which will contest the ELMS and the Le Mans 24 Hours,” said Carlos Tavares, Renault’s Chief Operating Officer. “It pays tribute to the A441, A442 and A443 which raced at and – in the case of the A442B – won at Le Mans in the 1970s. The figure ‘50’ symbolises the fiftieth anniversary of Alpine’s first official entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours.”
Tavares also re-affirmed the brand’s commitment to release the first production model for Alpine within the next three years.
“Alpine’s return to motor racing marks the beginning of a new adventure for this legendary brand,” he said. “Although our focus is very much on the future, with the development of a new car which is due to reach the market in 2016, we have not forgotten Alpine’s extraordinary heritage.”
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