Renault Sport

Renault Sport was officially founded in 1976, launching a single-seater competition program that included Formula 2, Sport Le Mans, and Formula One in 1977. The division's activities moved from Dieppe to Viry-Châtillon. Renault's motorsport history began earlier with Amédée Gordini, who was appointed head of the motorsport division in 1958. The Viry-Chtillon factory was built to house Gordini's creations. Renault became the majority shareholder of Alpine in 1973.

Renault first entered Formula One as a constructor in 1977, pioneering turbo engines. The brand achieved its first Formula One win in 1979 at the French Grand Prix with Jean-Pierre Jabouille driving the RS11. In the early 1980s, Renault won 15 Grands Prix and finished second in the 1983 World Championship with Alain Prost, before withdrawing at the end of the 1985 season. Renault returned to Formula One in 2001 by buying the Benetton team, officially changing the name to Renault F1 Team in 2002. The team won two consecutive World Drivers' titles with Fernando Alonso in 2005 and 2006, along with two constructors' titles in the same period. In 2011, Renault focused on being an engine manufacturer for other teams, selling the Renault F1 team to Genii Capital. Renault engines powered Red Bull Racing to World Championship victories with four constructors' titles between 2010 and 2013. Renault returned as an official constructor in 2016. In 2021, Alpine Cars, Renault Sport Cars, and Renault Sport Racing united under the Alpine brand. Renault continued as the exclusive engine manufacturer for the Alpine F1 Team.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Gordini-tuned Renault cars achieved success in rallying. Alpine, as a Renault subsidiary, won the first World Rally Championship in 1973 with the Alpine A110 "Berlinette." Renault continued to compete in rallying with cars like the R5 Turbo and R17 Gordini, before leaving international rallying in 1994. The European Rally Championship was won three times by a Renault car in 1999, 2004, and 2005. Renault Sport achieved a Le Mans victory in 1978 with the Renault Alpine A442. In 1979, the Marreau brothers won the Rally Dakar driving a Renault 20 Turbo 4x4 backed by Renault Sport. Renault Sport powered the Schlesser-Renault Elf buggies, which won the 1999 and 2000 editions of the Dakar Rally, with the 1999 car being the first two-wheel drive winner.

In the British Touring Car Championship, Renault experienced success with Tim Harvey and Alain Menu, culminating in Alain Menu winning the 1997 championship with 12 victories. Renault was involved in Formula E as a technical partner and powertrain supplier, achieving the first FE teams' championship with e.dams. Renault supplied powertrains to e.dams and Techeetah before withdrawing from the series after the 2017–18 season.

Renault Sport also participated in off-road racing, with a Dacia Duster prepared by Renault Sport Technologies, Sodemo, and Tork Engineering competing at the Pike's Peak hillclimbing event in 2011. Renault engines were used in Formula Three from the 1960s, with Alain Prost winning the 1979 FIA European Formula Three Championship with a Renault engine prepared by Oreca. Renault also had involvement in hillclimbing and sports car racing.

Renault Sport organized several one-make racing championships, including the Formula Renault 2.0L and 1.6L, Renault Clio Cup, and Dacia Logan Cup. Many international subsidiaries of Renault also had their own Renault Sport divisions. Renault discontinued the Alpine marque in 1994, branding its sports cars manufactured at Dieppe as Renault Sport, beginning with the Renault Sport Spider in 1996. Production of Renault Sport cars at Dieppe ended in 2018, with some models also produced at Renault Spain’s Palencia factory. Former models include the Spider, Clio Renault Sport, Twingo Renault Sport, and Megane Renault Sport.

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