After Apline announced it will return to motor racing after more than three decades, they said that their new racing car will be named the A450, following the old A400 range of pure racing breed machines.
The new prototype will make its debut at Silverstone racetrack in UK on April 13th before going on to race at the 24 Hours Le Mans this year.
"The name Alpine A450 stood out as a natural choice for this prototype which will contest the ELMS and the Le Mans 24 Hours," said Carlos Tavares, Renault’s Chief Operating Officer. "It pays tribute to the A441, A442 and A443 which raced at and – in the case of the A442B – won at Le Mans in the 1970s. The figure ‘50’ symbolises the fiftieth anniversary of Alpine’s first official entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours."
Powered by a 500 HP Nissan V8 engine mated to a six-speed sequential X-Trac gearbox, the No. 36 Alpine racer weighs only 900 kg (1,984 lbs) and can reach a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).
"The name Alpine A450 stood out as a natural choice for this prototype which will contest the ELMS and the Le Mans 24 Hours," said Carlos Tavares, Renault’s Chief Operating Officer. "It pays tribute to the A441, A442 and A443 which raced at and – in the case of the A442B – won at Le Mans in the 1970s. The figure ‘50’ symbolises the fiftieth anniversary of Alpine’s first official entry for the Le Mans 24 Hours."
Powered by a 500 HP Nissan V8 engine mated to a six-speed sequential X-Trac gearbox, the No. 36 Alpine racer weighs only 900 kg (1,984 lbs) and can reach a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph).