- Alain Prost’s car at the 1983 United States Grand Prix at Long Beach

- Used almost exclusively by Alain Prost for private testing on the world’s greatest circuits

- One of the most accomplished Renault single-seaters of the period

The first Renault single-seater with a carbon fibre bodyshell, the RE 40 was a particularly accomplished design and enabled Renault to enjoy its best ever season! Alain Prost finished second in the 1983 World Championship, narrowly missing out on the title. This outstanding result was based on the expertise the French firm had built up in turbocharging, a technology of which it had an excellent command and which allowed it to obtain – depending on how the engine was set up – peak power of 650–750bhp from the twin-turbo V6, at more than 11,000rpm.

This car, one of the seven RE40s produced by Renault Sport, of which six have stayed with Renault Sport since they were built, made a major contribution to this success, as it was used extensively by Prost for testing throughout the first half of the season and also competed in the United States Grand Prix in March at Watkins Glen. Exceptionally, the car comes with its logbook from the period, in the form of a handwritten binder recording each time the car was taken out on track, with the settings used, the changes made and the drivers’ comments ... A document which is as precious as it is moving, where the notes made with a pen or pencil are in sharp contrast to the computer data that is the rule in Formula 1 today. It supplements the information in the excellent book Renault F1, Les années turbo (1991, Jean-Louis Moncet, Bernard Dudot, Jean Sage).

This car first took to the track on 20 January at Montlhéry for a short private session of some 40km. It was then sent to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for three days of private testing at the Jacarepaguá circuit on 25, 28 and 29 January, driven by Prost. His first comments were: “Seat not right, hot air in the cockpit, front spoiler touching the ground, good grip, gearbox oil temperature 88°, then 110°!!!” Over the first two days, Prost knocked the rough edges off the new car, and everything was reviewed. He did this over a series of short sets of laps, covering 57 laps in all, before testing the tyres on the third day, trying eight different combinations over 81 laps.

The car was then sent to Willow Springs in the US, for private testing on 23 March, ahead of the Long Beach Grand Prix scheduled for the 27th. On the 25th, it took part in the official tests and Prost commented: “The brakes are locking up at the front, the car is good in tight corners, but lacks traction.” Things were scarcely any better the second day and Prost set the seventh-fastest time, finishing eleventh on the day of the race, driving this very car.

In preparation for the Grand Prix de France, RE 40-00 made its way to the Paul Ricard track on 8/9 April for private testing. The engineers focused on the poor running of the engine, the electronics for which were possibly affected by interference from the carbon fibre used in the new bodyshell. Despite their efforts, Prost concluded on the first day: “No better. Undriveable.” Fortunately, things improved the next day and Prost carried out tests on the suspension and aerodynamics. The car then took part in the second day of testing for the Grand Prix de France with Eddie Cheever, but did not compete in the race itself. Driving another RE 40, Prost won the Grand Prix!

For RE 40-00, the private test sessions continued on 22/23 April at Spa-Francorchamps. Prost concentrated on the tyres, suspension and aerodynamics, while Cheever took over for a series of short sets of laps before rain set in at the end of the afternoon. On 3/4 May, the team was in Dijon to resume testing, with Prost trying different spoilers and side pods. In readiness for the British Grand Prix, to be held at Silverstone on 16 July, RE 40-00 headed to the circuit for testing from 21–23 June. Prost methodically fine-tuned the car’s set-up on the track, working on the aerodynamics as well as the suspension and tyres. At the end of three intense days, during which he covered 936km, he declared: “Performs well, no longer understeers, quick to respond, brakes marginal." His efforts were crowned with success, as he won the race driving another RE 40.

The final mission for RE 40-00 would be the two days it spent at Hockenheim on 28/29 June, ahead of the German Grand Prix, to be held on 7 August. Prost carried out the overall set-up of the car, with tests on the transmission, engine and aerodynamics.

At the conclusion of its official career, it had covered a total of 5,450km. Its contribution to Renault’s excellent results in 1983 is clear, making it an important car in the company’s history in Formula 1.

After joining the collection in January 1984, it was the subject of a cosmetic restoration and is presented in its original livery in Prost’s colours, with his racing number 15. The V6 is in situ at the rear but is incomplete, missing its cylinder heads, turbos and inlet components.

This car deserves a proper mechanical restoration so that it can take to the track again at historic events, where it is sure to fascinate spectators who can recall the success these yellow and black machines enjoyed.