Like Mexico, Renault celebrates its ancestors
¡Arriba México! Last Friday on the Champs Élysée, the Renault workshop inaugurated an exhibition in honor of Mexico, its Grand Prix, and the Day of the Dead. It is an opportunity for the brand with the diamond logo to showcase its historical models revisited in the colors of Mexico until November 3rd. Motors Inside was present at the presentation.
On the occasion of the Mexican Grand Prix, David Ménochet, director of the Renault workshop, welcomed the head of the chancery of the Mexican embassy, Rodrigo Pintado, this Friday. It was therefore in the presence of several major figures of the brand that Renault was able to celebrate Mexico, Renault, Formula 1, and their shared history.
This is the story of the Renault brand that proudly sits at the entrance of 53 Avenue des Champs Élysées. The Renault Type K of Marcel Renault, the brand’s first car to win an important race, faces a Formula 1 car now displaying its Yellow and Black colors.
The diamond brand also wanted to celebrate its mechanical ancestors. One can find a Renault 4CV and even a Twingo, redesigned in the image and colors of the Calavera, those famous skulls emblematic of the Day of the Dead in Mexico.
The history of the brand is long to summarize, as Hugues Portron, head of Renault Classic, reminded us. But the history of Renault is one of success, records, and innovation that makes the French team one of the emblematic brands in the automotive world. A story that began in 1902 with the Type K and its victory in the Paris-Vienna race, the introduction of the Turbo in F1 with the Renault RS10, and the Renault 5 and its rally victories, like in Monte-Carlo in 1981 with Jean Ragnotti.
It was then Jérôme Stoll, the president of Renault F1 Team, who spoke and did not fail to remind everyone of the team’s ambitions in F1. The team is learning and gradually building the foundations of a team that will aim for podiums, victories, and obviously a world title that has eluded them since 2006. Renault F1 now shifts its focus to the 2021 season with the hope of more equitable regulations among teams.
Nicolas Espesson, performance optimization manager, then highlighted the difficulty for teams in setting up their cars in Mexico due to the altitude (2300 meters). The Mexico Grand Prix is a technical and aerodynamic challenge for teams that have to balance between downforce and top speed.
Finally, it was journalist Jean Louis Moncet who recalled the history of the Mexican Grand Prix and its track. The circuit today bears the name of two brothers, the Rodriguez brothers, who, having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and raced in F1, are now part of the history of Mexican motorsport. It was on this circuit that one of Alain Prost’s greatest victories was written. Indeed, during the 1990 edition of the Mexican Grand Prix, Alain Prost started 13th on the grid, yet he confessed to Jean Louis Moncet before the start, “I am going to win this race.” Thanks to exemplary driving, he finished first ahead of his Ferrari teammate, Nigel Mansell.
