Renault Alpine A442
The Alpine A442 was a sports car prototype, which until 1978 was used from 1975 in sports car racing.
When the Alpine A442 1975 made his race debut, the majority shareholder of Alpine had already been transferred to Renault. The A442 is thus referred to in various publications as the Renault Alpine A442. Also on the start list of the 24- hour race at Le Mans 1978 is on the race car as the Renault Alpine A442.
The A442 was followed in chronological order previous models A440 and A441, which recorded the Alpine prototype program back in the 1970s. Objective of the program was the victory in the endurance race in Le Mans, which was also reached in 1978 with the A442. With the A443, which was also used in 1978 in Le Mans, the program ended in late the same year. Basis of the concept was the 2 -liter turbo engine, which, equipped with two Garrett turbochargers, in its original form made 490 horsepower. In its latest evolutionary step in the A443 pilots were able to use 520 hp.
Like all Alpine prototypes had the A442 a narrow chassis, which was covered by a longer fiberglass chassis. The A442 was built as a two-seater and got after extensive wind -tunnel testing in 1978 an open-top glass roof made of acrylic. Although the pilots complained about the enormous heat in the cockpit, they drove in 1978 in Le Mans with this construction. To finally win at Le Mans in 1978, extensive tests were carried out; especially at the speed limit - the Le Mans race track has long straights - worked. In qualifying vote of the A442 end of the Mulsanne Straight reached a speed of 365 km / h, which was even faster at 15 km / h A443. His racing debut of the A442 at the 1000 km race at Mugello in 1975, with Jean -Pierre Jabouille and Gérard Larrousse at the helm, the imports equal to a victory. It was the last success to the 24 -hour race in 1978. Followed three difficult years, especially with valve damage to the turbo engines Alpine had constantly to fight.
After the defeat at Le Mans in 1976 and 1977 in 1978 three A442 were taken at the start. Besides the two works cars - an A442 and the glass roof - A442B - an A442 from the Ecurie Calberson was used. For this, the A443, which made the pace from the start and 18 hours was in the lead before he had to be parked with the engine damage. There was the work - A442 with Derek Bell and Jean -Pierre Jarier at the wheel with a damage to the electrical system already out of the race. The A442B, driven by Jean -Pierre Jaussaud and Didier Pironi, but ran smoothly and won after 24 hours in two works Porsche 936 The Calberson - A442 came in fourth place.