Renault has reached an agreement to sell its engine facility in Viry-Châtillon to the Belgian company Dumarey Group, specialized in technology and development of propulsion systems.
According to the official statement, the acquisition proposal has been presented to Alpine Racing. Both parties are working together to analyze the organization and financial aspects, with the aim of quickly defining the next steps.
This agreement will mean that Dumarey Group will take control of Alpine Racing SAS, including the team and the assets necessary for the operation of the facility.
Located in the suburbs of southern Paris, Viry has been a fundamental pillar of Renault’s Formula 1 engine program for decades. However, the French brand decided to close its internal engine department at the end of last year, focusing on an agreement with Mercedes, which has jeopardized the future of the workers in Viry.
Additionally, Alpine has announced its exit from the World Endurance Championship at the end of the year, after having used the Viry facility to maintain and assemble the Mecachrome engines that power its A424 LMDh model.
Future in WEC
The agreement may have implications for Alpine’s Hypercar program, as its factory partner, Signatech, is interested in continuing to race with the A424 under a new branding in 2027. Talks with the Chinese brand Geely seemed to be progressing, but it has recently been reported that negotiations have broken down.
The deadline for submitting entries for the 2027 season is November 25, at which point all necessary documents must be finalized to secure a place in the Hypercar category. The team director, Philippe Sinault, has stated that they have the engineers, mechanics, and resources needed to continue with the A424 program.
Organizing a new team also involves hiring new drivers, especially after the departure of Antonio Félix da Costa, as well as the confirmation of the drivers currently involved in the program.
Dumarey Group has highlighted that it wants to diversify its activities into motorsport, viewing this agreement as an opportunity to leverage Renault’s expertise in F1 engines for other racing teams in the future.
Axel Plasse, VP of Alpine Tech, has stated that ‘this transaction represents a solid and coherent opportunity to secure and further develop the expertise of the Viry-Châtillon site, opening new prospects for both employees and the engineering business.’
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_788039f7507fb8836a7d12b6f2e96605286aa658