Friday 6th September 2019

Alpine A110 Rally breaks cover

A110 gets the R-GT treatment to compete against RWD Abarth 124s and Porsche Caymans on the loose

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Alpine has revealed a rally-specification version of its A110 that's intended for competition in the FIA's fast-growing R-GT class. On show at the Rallye Mont-Blanc in Morzine, the new model has been developed by race team Signatech with input from French rally champions Emmanuel Guigou and Laurent Pellier, who have helped turn the already lightweight two-door into a featherweight competition machine with more than 300hp from its 1.8-litre engine.

Using the Alpine A110 GT4 and Cup racers as a base, the rally machine gets the usual motorsport alterations including a roll-cage, Sabelt bucket seats and fire extinguisher. But it shifts the focus from asphalt to the rough and tough stuff of a rally stage with unique three-way hydraulic suspension. The GT4's racier bodywork has been carried over, although the R-GT car gets a slimmer fixed rear wing for reduced drag. There are also Brembo brakes and lightweight wheels.

The mid-mounted turbocharged engine has also received a light overhaul, boosting its power to beyond the 300hp mark and linking it to a six-speed sequential gearbox, which provides drive via a limited-slip differential. The upgrades largely end there, as per the R-GT's cost-limiting regulations that prevent substantial modification from the GT4 base, helping the A110 R-GT list price to a relatively inexpensive (for this level of motorsport) 150,000 euros before taxes - so about £160k with VAT.

Following its reveal, Alpine will put the car forward for FIA homologation, suggesting it could be ready to go up against the clock - along with Porsche's Cayman and Abarth's 124 competition machines - on next year's rallying world stage. For those who prefer their sports cars of the numberplate-wearing variety, rumours of a road-going GT4 variant continue...

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Search for an Alpine A110 here

[RumbleOfThunder]

That looks the absolute bks on those white wheels. Also it's interesting how top mounted wings have exploded over the past few years. I first noticed them on the Koenigsegg Agera.