F1: Renault sells Viry-Châtillon engine site to Belgium's Dumarey
The newsroomUpdated on October 23, 20263 minRenault sells Alpine Racing SAS, its ex-F1 engine site at Viry-Châtillon, to Belgium's Dumarey Group: jobs, plans and what it means for Alpine's WEC programme.
Key point
Renault has agreed to sell Alpine Racing SAS, its former F1 engine site at Viry-Châtillon, to Belgium's Dumarey Group; the price has not been disclosed.
Renault has agreed a deal with Belgium's Dumarey Group to sell Alpine Racing SAS, the company running the Viry-Châtillon site near Paris, where the brand's Formula 1 engines were built. Dumarey specialises in powertrains and engineering components for road cars and would also take over the teams and assets needed to run the site. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
What we know about the deal
- The buyer is Dumarey Group, led by founder and chairman Guido Dumarey
- Once the deal closes, the site would operate under the Dumarey name
- According to Reuters, relayed by F1Journaal, around 150 jobs would be preserved
- No completion date has been given: the offer has been submitted to Alpine Racing and both sides are still reviewing the structure and the finances
- Axel Plasse, vice-president of Alpine Tech, describes it as a concrete and logical opportunity to preserve the site's expertise
A historic F1 site
The Viry-Châtillon plant built Renault engines that helped Williams, Benetton and Red Bull Racing win world titles. Dumarey points to more than four decades of the site's F1 development experience. Renault has ended its in-house F1 engine work, and the Alpine F1 Team now runs Mercedes power.
The buyer says it wants to keep and develop that expertise. Renault and Dumarey have not ruled out making it available to other racing teams in future. A return of Viry-Châtillon engine technology to the F1 grid has not been announced.
The WEC angle
The site also handled maintenance and assembly of the engines for the Alpine A424, the Hypercar entered in the WEC. Alpine leaves the championship at the end of the year, but partner Signatech wants to enter the A424 under another brand in 2027. Talks with Chinese manufacturer Geely are reported to have failed.
Team principal Philippe Sinault says the engineers and mechanics are in place. Drivers still have to be recruited after António Félix da Costa's departure, and the entry must be completed before the deadline at the end of November.
What to watch
The sale is not yet complete. We will follow the finalisation of the deal, the fate of the A424 programme in 2027 and any Dumarey plans in motorsport.
Frequently asked questions
Who is buying Renault's Viry-Châtillon site?
Belgium's Dumarey Group, founded and chaired by Guido Dumarey, is to acquire Alpine Racing SAS along with the teams and assets needed for the site. The price is not disclosed.
Are the jobs at the site safe?
According to Reuters, relayed by F1Journaal, around 150 jobs would be preserved. The structure and finances are still under review.
Does the sale change anything for Alpine in F1?
Not in the short term: the team uses Mercedes engines. The site could however serve other racing teams in future.
Sources
- Motorsport.com (FR) — Renault/Alpine's Viry-Châtillon plant bought by a Belgian group
- F1Journaal — Dumarey Group takes over Renault's historic F1 engine division
- Motorsport.com (NL) — Alpine's future possibly with Dumarey Group
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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