Video: Alain Prost drives an F1-powered Minivan

In 1995, Renault built something truly mad.

The Renault Espace F1 was more than just a family van with an engine swap, it was actually a one-off carbon fiber chassis fitted with a matching carbon version of the Espace’s bodywork, custom suspension work, carbon-ceramic brakes and the entire running gear from a 1993 Renault RS5 F1 car.

The engine from the 1993 RS5 was a 3.5L, 40-valve naturally aspirated V10 which made around 700hp, however it was a couple of years old – so Renault thought they’d bring it back up to speed by tuning in a total of 800hp. It accelerated from 0-100km/h (62mph) in just 2.8 seconds, however it’s the almost race-car like handling which really grabs our attention.

This video showcases Alain Prost putting the machine through it’s paces. Car companies were more fun back then! We’ve set the video up so it starts right from the action for you, however feel free to rewind the clip if you’d like to see an introduction to the car.

See the best of Alain Prost here.

Learn about Renault’s F1 legacy here.