On May 17, 1922, Jean Rédélé was born into a family passionate about automobiles. After completing his engineering studies and winning several rallies with Renault cars, at just 24 years old, he took over a Renault dealership in Dieppe, Normandy.His experience with Renault engines pushed Jean to create increasingly extreme and competitive car prototypes-not just for himself, but also for clients commissioning vehicles for racing. The success he achieved allowed him to establish his own company.
With an innovative and forward-thinking approach, in 1955, the Société Anonyme des Automobiles Alpine was born.
With an innovative and forward-thinking approach, in 1955, the Société Anonyme des Automobiles Alpine was born.
The first model produced, the Alpine A106, was powered by the Renault 4CV engine and hit the market in 1956. Built with a fiberglass body on a tubular chassis, the A106 racked up numerous victories in the late 1950s. Shortly after, it was joined by an open-top version, also designed by Michelotti, which later evolved into the Alpine A108 - a model that found success both in motorsports and among the public.From a small artisanal workshop, Alpine transformed by the end of the 1950s into a full-fledged factory, divided into two sections: one dedicated to mass production and the other focused on competition.
The company’s ambitions continued to grow: in the early 1960s, it introduced the M63, a highly aerodynamic race car that achieved significant wins, including victory at the 1000 km of Nürburgring in 1963.
Alpine soon expanded into Formula 3 and Formula 2, developing single-seaters powered by 1.0-liter engines derived from the Renault R8—similar to what was used in the A110.
By the early 1970s, Alpine was already facing the challenge of finding a successor to the A110, which was becoming less competitive. The Alpine A310 was introduced in 1971, but the company was entering a period of decline. While its mechanical components still stemmed from mass production, as had been the case before, competition was growing increasingly fierce.
Alpine found some success on the track: in 1978, the Alpine-Renault A442 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That same year, Alpine officially merged with Renault.In November 2012, the brand was revived through a partnership with the British manufacturer Caterham, forming Société des Automobiles Alpine Caterham.
However, in 2014, the partnership was dissolved, and Renault proceeded with Alpine’s revival on its own.
However, in 2014, the partnership was dissolved, and Renault proceeded with Alpine’s revival on its own.
In 2013 and 2014, Alpine competed in the European Le Mans Series in the LMP2 category in collaboration with Signatech, securing both the drivers' and constructors' championships in both years.
On September 6, 2020, Groupe Renault announced that the Renault F1 Team would be renamed Alpine F1 Team.Alpine’s story still has chapters left to be written—pages yet to be added to its legacy, filled with the same key elements that have always defined the brand: lightness, agility, and a competitive spirit.
On September 6, 2020, Groupe Renault announced that the Renault F1 Team would be renamed Alpine F1 Team.Alpine’s story still has chapters left to be written—pages yet to be added to its legacy, filled with the same key elements that have always defined the brand: lightness, agility, and a competitive spirit.
