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Thread: Alpine LMP2 launch

  1. #1
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    Alpine LMP2 launch

    The new livery has been announced.

    The car is still signatech/Nissan for now it seems
    ( Wouter, you not received a release on this and get us some inside info ? )

    Following the recent announcement on March 8 of its entry for both the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours and this year’s European Le Mans Series, Signatech-Alpine today presented the endurance racing prototype that will defend Alpine’s colours this season at L’Atelier Renault in Paris, France.

    The N°36 Alpine will make its first track appearance at the official ELMS test days at Paul Ricard, France, on March 26-27.
    It was a little less than 35 years ago that the 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours-winning Alpine-Renault A442B paraded down the Champs-Elysées in front of a cheering crowd who turned out to show their appreciation for the car’s success in the hands of Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Didier Pironi. Today, the Parisian public and visitors to the French capital have another chance to discover the A442B, since it is one of the centrepieces of the ‘No Limit!’ exhibition which is currently running at L’Atelier Renault (until April 7).
    The Champs Elysees premises consequently provided the ideal backdrop for the revelation of the new Alpine prototype which is poised to compete in this year’s endurance racing season. Société des Automobiles Alpine-Caterham’s CEO Bernard Ollivier and Philippe Sinault, Signatech-Alpine Team Principal, lifted the veil to reveal a striking blue and orange livery which recalls the colours sported by the Alpines which raced at Le Mans some five decades ago.
    “Since the announcement of Alpine’s revival on November 5 last year, we have been moving forward step by step,” said Bernard Ollivier. “The unveiling of this splendid car marks the beginning of another phase. It will turn a wheel for the first time very soon, and its maiden race will follow shortly afterwards. The news of our endurance racing programme received a very positive welcome, not only from diehard Alpine enthusiasts, but also from the world of motor racing in general. We can hardly wait to see our brand’s colours in action!”
    “I am extremely proud to be representing Alpine, but it as an honour which goes hand in hand with significant responsibilities,” noted Philippe Sinault. “The next step is to take the car to Paul Ricard where our work will begin in earnest. Our aim is to be competitive in endurance racing’s highly competitive LMP2 class. We will use the different test sessions that are planned, as well as the first two rounds of the ELMS, to prepare for June’s Le Mans 24 Hours which is clearly the focal point of the season.”
    The drivers who have been named to share the N°36 Alpine-Renault form a blend of experience and youth, and all three are keen to get behind its wheel. Nelson Panciatici, 24, and Pierre Ragues, 29, who were confirmed at the time of the programme’s original announcement, will be joined for the Le Mans 24 Hours by 34-year old Tristan Gommendy. The three Frenchmen all rose up through the ranks of Renault’s single-seater formulae and, between them, total 10 previous participations in the world’s most famous motor race. Another French youngster, Paul-Loup Chatin, has been chosen as the car’s reserve driver.
    Renault Press
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    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  2. #2
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    The car is an Oreca 03 LMP2 chassis with a Zytek developed Nissan engine, so the package is identical to the one raced by Signatech during the last two seasons.
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    I've seen another report that stated the chassis was "Alpine", but like you was lead to believe it was signatech's Oreca. Wondered if there had been a change of heart, if Alpien were doing some mods to it ... or as suspect it's another Renauld badge engineering BS
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

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    Supposedly Renault is getting into P2 engine business(badged as Alpine) to directly compete with Nissan's in the same business(also rumor Nissan might be back in a P1 at some point). At this point it makes no sense to come out with a new car in 2013 since the big rule shuffle is next year...
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    I'm betting on marketing stunt for the reintroduction of Alpine road cars.
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
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    The badge job doesn't bother me. Amazing livery.

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    It's just Alpine (owned by Renault) rebadging the Oreca 03 LMP2 car (same tub as the Oreca 01 LMP1, Oreca 09 FLM/LMPC, and Courage LC70/75 LMP1 and LMP2 car), and the same Nissan VK45 based ex-Super GT 4.5 V8 (Nissan is majority owned by Renault).

    It's just Renault trying to get back into sportscar racing on a budget and using what they have at hand now, and as a marketing exercise because Renault is about to re-launch Alpine as a brand and a performance division of Renault, sort of like what RenaultSport is now, and and Nismo is to Nissan.

    And why not--it's worked for Renault putting their name on the Lotus-Renualt F1 team (where they're an engine supplier and minority owner), and putting Infiniti as a sponsor of Red Bull Racing in F1 (Infiniti is the luxury division of Nissan in North America, Europe, and Austral-Asia--I don't know if that applies in Japan, where the Infiniti G is/was sold as the Nissan Skyline, and the Infiniti M is/was sold as the Nissan Fuga).

    It also worked for Nissan/Renault and Michelin with the Delta Wing--All Nissan and Michelin did was put their sponsorship on the car (the DW's engine wasn't even really a Nissan engine--it was a modified RML Chevy Cruze WTCC engine), and they got notoriety and press for minimum money expenditure; Michelin probably spends more (or as much) being an associate sponsor for Audi Sport and Toyota Motorsport GmbH in the WEC than they spent on the DW.

    In the case of Nissan/Renault, you can rip on Carlos Ghosn for being stingy with money when it comes to Nissan's and Renault's racing programs, but he's obviously a smart business man and knows how to work a little bit of sponsorship a long way in terms of getting his brands in the news.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chernaudi View Post
    It's just Renault trying to get back into sportscar racing on a budget and using what they have at hand now, and as a marketing exercise because Renault is about to re-launch Alpine as a brand and a performance division of Renault, sort of like what RenaultSport is now, and and Nismo is to Nissan.
    RenaultSport is Alpine. They actually build their cars (or are newer RSs built alongside their "normal" counterparts?) in Alpine's old Dieppe factory.
    Quote Originally Posted by Chernaudi View Post
    And why not--it's worked for Renault putting their name on the Lotus-Renualt F1 team (where they're an engine supplier and minority owner), and putting Infiniti as a sponsor of Red Bull Racing in F1 (Infiniti is the luxury division of Nissan in North America, Europe, and Austral-Asia--I don't know if that applies in Japan, where the Infiniti G is/was sold as the Nissan Skyline, and the Infiniti M is/was sold as the Nissan Fuga).
    The Lotus team was built on the foundations of the old Renault F1 team.
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    Go Toleman!

  10. #10
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    Chernaudi, Ghosn and co decided that they could sell more "performance" cars by utilising the great Gordini reputation.
    They proceeded to stick 2 white stripes on mediocre blue cars with mediocre performance and made Gordini a laughing stock of a name. So bad they've now dropped it and moved on to (hopefully not) destroy Alpine the same way
    Sadly, I don't see the road going Alpine will match the market leaders and so the risk is another Caterham failed design but this time ruin a great reputation.
    Like the 21, they've shown it early and promised it and by the time it comes others will have surpassed what if currently offers ( as some do already )
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

  11. #11
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    Wouldn't it be funny if Alpine, RenaultSport, and Gordini were all offered at the same time?

    Oh, teh lolz.

    You could have the GARS Megane!

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    Quote Originally Posted by RacingManiac View Post
    Supposedly Renault is getting into P2 engine business(badged as Alpine) to directly compete with Nissan's in the same business(also rumor Nissan might be back in a P1 at some point).
    What about this alliance that Renault and Nissan have? Isn't this some sort of conflict?

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    Quote Originally Posted by LTSmash View Post
    What about this alliance that Renault and Nissan have? Isn't this some sort of conflict?
    VAG is going to battle itself at Le Mans, and it does in various limited capacities with the GT3 and R8 already. Yes, I phrased the first part of that sentence intentionally.

    I think Renault-Nissan-Dacia-Infiniti are trying to get the maximal exposure for each brand spending cheap dollars (save Infiniti Red Bull Racing Renault).

    Badging a car Renault-Alpine in P2 and having a bunch of other privateers running Nissan engines and GT Academy and its grads going all over the world ain't a bad idea to me.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chernaudi View Post
    In the case of Nissan/Renault, you can rip on Carlos Ghosn for being stingy with money when it comes to Nissan's and Renault's racing programs, but he's obviously a smart business man and knows how to work a little bit of sponsorship a long way in terms of getting his brands in the news.
    Even smarter would be doubling the return on investement...

    Renault to return to Le Mans | Racecar Engineering
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  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Matra et Alpine View Post
    Chernaudi, Ghosn and co decided that they could sell more "performance" cars by utilising the great Gordini reputation.
    They proceeded to stick 2 white stripes on mediocre blue cars with mediocre performance and made Gordini a laughing stock of a name. So bad they've now dropped it and moved on to (hopefully not) destroy Alpine the same way
    I disagree on one part only. The Twingo RS is a superb performance car.

    Other than that, yes, the shameless pillage of an historic name by the Regie is sad.
    Quote Originally Posted by LTSmash View Post
    What about this alliance that Renault and Nissan have? Isn't this some sort of conflict?
    Quote Originally Posted by Kitdy View Post
    VAG is going to battle itself at Le Mans, and it does in various limited capacities with the GT3 and R8 already. Yes, I phrased the first part of that sentence intentionally.

    I think Renault-Nissan-Dacia-Infiniti are trying to get the maximal exposure for each brand spending cheap dollars (save Infiniti Red Bull Racing Renault).

    Badging a car Renault-Alpine in P2 and having a bunch of other privateers running Nissan engines and GT Academy and its grads going all over the world ain't a bad idea to me.
    PSA also used to compete against itself in the WRC and now is losing 5 american billions of commie-euros a year.

    Are those two circumstances related?
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
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