Renault Alpine A442 n°19

After the victory of Mirage in 1975, GR8 come back to LeMans as challenger, behind Porsche, the favorite, full of successes in World Championship. Renault appears consequently as the second challenger.

Two cars should be at the start in LeMans, but at the end only one: the A442 of Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Patrick Tambay who just discovers the car in LeMans and José Dolhem who replaces on short notice René Arnoux whose small stature raised intractable problems. The entered car has the long rear bonnet, the air box design and arrangement was modified and located on the top of the rear bonnet as on the A441C of 1975 and no more on the front like in Watkins Glen and following other races. The turbocharged engine secretly developed for a future F1 project still gives a headache but important progress has been made for the end of previous year. The Régie comes to LeMans with many spare parts strictly selected which the team trained to change quickly. The official purpose of the team is to cross the finish line.

Jabouille sets pole during practice and qualifying in 3’33’’1’’’ in front of Porsche 936 #20 of Jacky Ickx and Van Lennep and Porsche 935 #40 of Rolf Stommelen and Manfred Schurti. The car is very fast but not reliable. And during the race, pit stops are numerous. Overheating problems, increased by the high temperature of the weekend, are detected very soon. The team-mates are not able to take the car up to the finishing line. The retirement is announced at 3'oclock in the morning when it is noticed a piston is broken. 

Scale1/32

Manufacturer nameRenault Alpine

Manufacturer modelA442

BrandLE MANS miniatures

Competitionyes

Race24 Heures du Mans

Year1976

DriverJean-Pierre Jabouille & Patrick Tambay

EAN3700474503256

BodyPolyurethan resin

ChassisInjected ABS

EngineIn-line

CrownSlot.it (ref. GO23-bz ou GO24-al)

Rims4 aluminum rims

Weight88 g

Driven byJean-Pierre Jabouille

TyresRubber 30 ShoreA

Production02/2018