After a lengthy absence, Alpine reappeared in the 2010s. Its comeback not only confirmed just how popular the marque is, but also heralded a convincing set of race results. The three stages of the comeback:

2012, a legend hits the half-century – The Renault-Alpine A110-50 concept made its debut at the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a motor racing icon – the Alpine A110, known as the “Berlinette”. Unveiled at the 1962 Paris Motor Show, the A110 was produced until 1977. In 1973, it claimed the first Manufacturers’ title in the inaugural season of the World Rally Championship – today’s WRC.

2013-2014, four titles for its comeback – Once the A110-50 had been revealed, French team Signatech changed its name to Signatech-Alpine and ran an Oreca 03 prototype renamed Alpine A450. The car was raced in the European Le Mans Series for two seasons and came away with two consecutive Drivers’ and Team titles. The Alpine A450 finished eighth in LM P2 at the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours and bagged third place in the same class in 2014.

2015, an anniversary, a World Championship and a concept – With these successes under its belt, Signatech Alpine announced that it would be competing in LM P2 in the World Endurance Championship in 2015. To mark the sixtieth anniversary of the brand’s creation by Jean Rédélé, the Alpine Célébration concept was exclusively unveiled as a prelude to the iconic 24-hour race in Le Mans on Saturday 13 June 2015.

THE STORY CONTINUES...

Jean-Philippe Doret/ACO
Translated from French by Clair Pickworth

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DE LA SARTHE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY 15 JUNE 2014, RACE. Third place for the Alpine A450 in the LM P2 class, with Oliver Webb, Paul-Loup Chatin and Nelson Panciatici at the wheel ¬¬– a result that brought rousing cheers from the Le Mans crowd, still very fond of the French marque.