1976 Renault-Alpine A442
- Engine
- 2.0L Garrett-turbocharged V6, ~490 bhp
The Renault-Alpine A442, chassis 4422, is one of only four examples of this landmark turbocharged endurance racer built following the merger of Renault, Alpine, and Gordini. Powered by a Garrett-turbocharged 2.0-litre V6 producing around 490 bhp, it competed extensively in the 1976 and 1977 seasons before returning to Le Mans in 1978. Chassis 4422 is the sole A442 in private hands and has been the subject of ongoing research suggesting it may be the actual car that won the 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours — a claim disputed by Renault, who attribute that victory to chassis 4423.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €2,255,000 (≈ $2.48M)
- 1978 →Acquisition unknownJean Sagepartial documentation
Sage served as director of the Renault F1 program during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and later gained recognition managing Ferrari endurance efforts. He subsequently passed the car on to Maeght.
- → 2014Private saleAdrien Maeghtpartial documentation
Maeght displayed the car for more than two decades at his automotive museum in Mougins, France.
- 2014 →Private saleMr. Guikaspartial documentation
Car held in static display within Guikas's personal collection; mechanically restored and documented running at Paul Ricard circuit.
Competition
- 1976-04-25Trofeo Filippo Caracciolo4 Hours of Monza 1976Driver: Henri Pescarolo2nd overall
Car entered under race number 1; co-driven by Jean-Pierre Jarier; qualified 3rd on the grid.
- 1976-05-01Imola 500 Kilometres 1976Driver: Jody ScheckterDNF
Entered as number 3; co-driven by Henri Pescarolo.
- 1976-06-01Le Mans 24 Hours 1976
Chassis participated only in practice sessions as car number 19 during the event held 12–13 June; no race start confirmed.
- 1976-06-27Coppa Florio 1976Driver: Jacques LaffiteDNF
Held at Autodromo di Pergusa; entered as number 2 with Patrick Depailler co-driving; secured pole position but retired before the finish.
- 1976-08-22World Sports Car ChampionshipMosport 1976Driver: Patrick Depailler4th overall
Entered as number 1; qualified 4th and finished in the same position.
- 1976-09-05Dijon 500 Kilometres 1976Driver: Jacques Laffite2nd overall
Held at Circuit de Dijon-Prenois; entered as number 4 with Patrick Depailler co-driving; started from pole position.
- 1977Le Mans 24 Hours 1977Driver: Jacques LaffiteDNF — engine failure
Entered as number 8 in Renault/Elf livery; co-driven by Patrick Depailler; qualified 2nd overall and was the last of the four A442s to retire, having completed 289 laps.
- 1978Le Mans 24 Hours 1978
Chassis 4422's exact role in the 1978 race is disputed; documentary evidence compiled by Pierre Abeillon argues this chassis may be the overall winner, though Renault maintains chassis 4423 was the winning car.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Mechanical
The car underwent a mechanical recommissioning during the current owner's tenure, after a lengthy period of static display. It was subsequently driven at Circuit Paul Ricard for photographic and video documentation.
Described as mechanically restored; the car otherwise remains in largely unaltered, time-capsule condition from 1978.
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