30 cars and 90 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 15/30 : the Renault Alpine A442 B (1978)
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30 cars and 90 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 15/30 : the Renault Alpine A442 B (1978)

The Renault Alpine A442 B (1978) : 30 cars and 90 years of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 15/30

On the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest has selected thirty historic cars grouped into three per decade, all up for public vote by race fans. To participate, click HERE and choose one per decade. The vote is open until the 15th of January 2013. Each of the thirty cars will have a short introduction. Today it is the Renault Alpine A442 B that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978.
 

The Renault Alpine A442 made ​​its first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1976. That same year, Porsche scored its first victory with turbocharged engine technology, which was also used by Renault. The duel came the following year, but turned again to the advantage of Porsche. But in 1978 it was the year Renault: the German manufacturer dominated by the pure performance of the A443 Jean-Pierre Jabouille and Patrick Depailler until its retirement and the A442-B of Jaussaud-Pironi, who won the race. The latter was the only A442 equipped with a transparent bubble around the cockpit to improve aerodynamics. Renault has proven the reliability and performance of the turbo engine, and will now focus entirely on their next goal: to win in Formula 1, where the French manufacturer has been active since 1977.

Year : 46th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (10th & 11th June 1978)
Number of cars entered : Three
Technical Information :
2 litre V6 turbo
Drivers :
Jean Pierre Jaussaud-Didier Pironi (n°2)
Jean Pierre Jarier-Derek Bell (n°3)
Guy Fréquelin-Jean Ragnotti-José Dolhem-Jean Pierre Jabouille (n°4)
Results :
1st (Jean Pierre Jaussaud-Didier Pironi)
4th (Guy Fréquelin-Jean Ragnotti-José Dolhem-Jean Pierre Jabouille)
Retired (Jean Pierre Jarier-Derek Bell)
Notes : The Renault Alpine A442 was entered in two versions « A » (n°3 and 4) and version « B » (n°2).

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