RE: Renault to return to Le Mans?

RE: Renault to return to Le Mans?

Wednesday 6th March 2013

Renault to return to Le Mans?

Rumours surface about an RS34-powered return to La Sarthe by the French manufacturer



Updated 08/03/13: Renault has now officially confirmed that it will be returning to Le Mans in 2013. Click here for full details; our original story is below.


Renault might well be about to stage a return to endurance racing, if a report that’s surfaced in the French newspaper Le Maine Libre is to be believed.

News could mean Alpine returns to Le Mans
News could mean Alpine returns to Le Mans
The newspaper, which is based in the town of Le Mans and usually a good source of race-related news, is one of several outlets (including respected rmotorsport engineering site Racecar Engineering) which are suggesting a Le Mans return for Renault, or possibly sub-brand Alpine. Such a comeback would further enhance the marque’s motorsport credentials in advance of the launch of its road car – and the timing is particularly spicy, with a potential 2015 Le Mans entry coinciding neatly with the year the Alpine is expected to launch in production form. It'd also provide another top-level racing team for the company's myriad single-marque race series to feed into.

The suggested course of action at present would be an engine supply programme, to ease the company back into the series, potentially supplying LMP2 team Signatech at first. Such a powerplant could be based on Renault’s RS34 Formula 1 engine, which currently complies with 2014’s technical regulations. From there, a full-on assault on LMP1 would be possible.

Le Mans would add cred to Alpine road car
Le Mans would add cred to Alpine road car
While it should be stressed that these are only rumours at present, sources for the story say that an announcement is imminent. We asked Renault for their take on the story, and were met with “no comment”. It could be entirely unrelated, but the ACO has scheduled a press conference at La Sarthe on Friday, with Pierre Fillon supposedly planning an “important announcement”. Coincidence? We really, really hope not, because the return of Renault – and the resulting potential for an epic battle with technology partner Nissan, which already supplies a whopping 17 cars in this year's LMP2 category – is a mouthwatering prospect.  

[Source: Racecar Engineering]

Author
Discussion

Craiglamuffin

Original Poster:

358 posts

179 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
That would be good!

wildman0609

885 posts

175 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
according to DSC the signatech would just be a re branded Oreca LMP2

RobGT81

5,227 posts

185 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
wildman0609 said:
according to DSC the signatech would just be a re branded Oreca LMP2
Yeah, I think they are only talking engines for the moment. The LMP2 engine wouldn't be the new F1 engine, that would only be used in LMP1.

georgetuk

205 posts

217 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
With a £5bn loss just announced last week...I wouldn't hold your breath!

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
georgetuk said:
With a £5bn loss just announced last week...I wouldn't hold your breath!
I don't know - a high profile, low cost ego boost would be just what the doctor ordered.

What's Le Mans cost? 1/100th of an F1 season?

M.

RobGT81

5,227 posts

185 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
marcosgt said:
What's Le Mans cost? 1/100th of an F1 season?
$125 million if you're Audi... but just as an engine supplier, who would already be building the engine for F1 it probably wouldn't be too bad.

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
RobGT81 said:
marcosgt said:
What's Le Mans cost? 1/100th of an F1 season?
$125 million if you're Audi... but just as an engine supplier, who would already be building the engine for F1 it probably wouldn't be too bad.
Certainly didnt do MG Rover any harm 10 years ago with their Xpower LMP275..

Mark-C

5,010 posts

204 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
Yes please ... and in yellow, black and white ... just how they should be.

It's got to be cheaper than the F1 commitment and if it can use some of the F1 tech then surely it makes sense. Does that mean we'll have Audi, Porsche, Totota and Renault all going for an LMP1 win?


RobGT81

5,227 posts

185 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
Mark-C said:
Yes please ... and in yellow, black and white ... just how they should be.

It's got to be cheaper than the F1 commitment and if it can use some of the F1 tech then surely it makes sense. Does that mean we'll have Audi, Porsche, Totota and Renault all going for an LMP1 win?
+ Nissan and would make sense for Honda to join the party if they have an engine on the cards..

Housey

2,076 posts

226 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
It is great to see manufacturers coming back to endurance racing at hopefully the top level. I still hark back to the Group C days of the 80's with Porsche, Lancia, Jaguar, Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes, Mazda, Aston Martin all running cars in the top class. Best racing era for me personally and I would love to see those days relived but with new technologies and drivers. No we need to get those 2 chicanes removed and a focus on 250mph top speeds smile

CampingGaz

189 posts

142 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
+1 Like :-)

Who knows whether it will happen but just the thought is great.

Awlays love the doomsayers and negative responses you get on PH

Gives me a good laugh however.....:-0)

Housey said:
It is great to see manufacturers coming back to endurance racing at hopefully the top level. I still hark back to the Group C days of the 80's with Porsche, Lancia, Jaguar, Nissan, Toyota, Mercedes, Mazda, Aston Martin all running cars in the top class. Best racing era for me personally and I would love to see those days relived but with new technologies and drivers. No we need to get those 2 chicanes removed and a focus on 250mph top speeds smile

Plug550

1,104 posts

214 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
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Bit of spit and polish should have this old girl back where she belongs in no time!


Antj

1,041 posts

199 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
I hope so as last year really suffered with loss of Peugeot. A french team really makes the atmosphere out there. Thats why this year looks poop with no real challengers to Audi so 2014 should be superb with Porsche coming back. LMP1 really needs some big boys back as it is the star on top of the Christmas tree.

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
Antj said:
I hope so as last year really suffered with loss of Peugeot. A french team really makes the atmosphere out there. Thats why this year looks poop with no real challengers to Audi so 2014 should be superb with Porsche coming back. LMP1 really needs some big boys back as it is the star on top of the Christmas tree.
That's an interesting idea.

Do we REALLY think Audi and Porsche will go head to head? Seems a bit of redundant exercise for VAG.

M.

Coupe_bloke

133 posts

217 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
Antj said:
I hope so as last year really suffered with loss of Peugeot. A french team really makes the atmosphere out there. Thats why this year looks poop with no real challengers to Audi so 2014 should be superb with Porsche coming back. LMP1 really needs some big boys back as it is the star on top of the Christmas tree.
Errm... Toyota were quicker than Audi at most of the WEC rounds following Le Mans last year... I reckon they will be a very serious challenge to Audi at Le Mans this year (and in the WEC). Personally I can't wait! :-)

RobGT81

5,227 posts

185 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
quotequote all
marcosgt said:
That's an interesting idea.

Do we REALLY think Audi and Porsche will go head to head? Seems a bit of redundant exercise for VAG.

M.
Yes, Audi will demonstrate diesel technology and Porsche will demonstrate petrol technology smile

No competition for Audi this year?? Did you not see Toyota crush Audi in the second half of the WEC?? Money has to be on Toyota in the WEC, Le Mans is far too close to call!

Richard-G

1,669 posts

174 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
quotequote all
RobGT81 said:
marcosgt said:
That's an interesting idea.

Do we REALLY think Audi and Porsche will go head to head? Seems a bit of redundant exercise for VAG.

M.
Yes, Audi will demonstrate diesel technology and Porsche will demonstrate petrol technology smile

No competition for Audi this year?? Did you not see Toyota crush Audi in the second half of the WEC?? Money has to be on Toyota in the WEC, Le Mans is far too close to call!
Indeed, very red faces at audi in the WEC. A car turns up in its first season proves to be faster than the car audi have been refining for the past two.

remember toyota are ran by Oreca, a fench team and they are supposed to be running three cars this year at le mans. I just hope they run two in the WEC rounds.

ArnageWRC

2,050 posts

158 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
quotequote all
The more Manufacturers the better - and hopefully more mainstream coverage as a result!! There is space after F1 for another global Motorsport series..... who can claim it?

Rude-boy

22,227 posts

232 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
quotequote all
ArnageWRC said:
The more Manufacturers the better - and hopefully more mainstream coverage as a result!! There is space after F1 for another global Motorsport series..... who can claim it?
Not likely to happen.


eastlmark

1,654 posts

206 months

Friday 8th March 2013
quotequote all
now confirmed....for this year!